Ignition barrel electrical contact issue? any input welcomed

Hi all, any insight or help very much welcomed!
As the title suggests...
Slight problem with what appears to be my ignition barrel (I think)...

Suzuki jimny 2004, 'off roader' -
Basically, when I turn the key in the ignition (at normal turning speed) my dash lights illuminate but instead of engine turnover, I get a reasonably loud click from driver side (R/h) engine bay but no fire up... I can also hear what I presume to be the fuel pump priming itself ready for engine start.

However if I slowly (half speed) turn the ignition key to the point where I get the 'click' then stop turning, and give the key a tiny (and I do mean tiny) wiggle.. it fires straight up 100% of the time.

No odd noise or behaviours with starter motor itself... turns over good and strong and fires engine almost instantly...

I have made an effort to scour the internet and bigjimn forum befor raising the question,
and a lot of 'clicky start' posts I've read aim at starter motor being the issue but as mentioned, it seems to work correctly 100% of the time... as long as you turn the key slowly and give it the 'love wiggle' rather than just a normal quick turn.

Anybody else come across anything else similar with their jimnys?
Or could you suggest anything to look out for other than an obvious 'loose/disconnected' wire?

Many thanks in advance

Welsh Tom
 

I have to agree with your conclusion, it sounds like the issue is in the contact switch part of the ignition barrel. Unfortunately I don't know much more about this area or if you can get access to the rotary switch. If you can nothing lost trying some contact cleaner.
On early Samurai it looks like it was a separate part to the lock barrel, but security may have change to make it awkward to get at. Possibly worth getting a second hand unit and having a play to see how far you can take it apart, you only want the electrical switch changed if you can.
You can break the second hand one without invoking the Jimny key Devils.
Good luckMike

I had several electrical issues with my car earlier and the ignition switch electric connection was one of the culprits i tried to fix. I found nothing wrong with mine but I am certain I read about others having problems with the switch. But searching now i cannot find it. Might have been on a norwegian or other forum. anyways the switch was easy to dismantle and check and assemble afterwords.
From memory if you had a bad connection in the switch there should be loose or sloppy fixing of the metal pieces inside the lock. So if you could wiggle the lock with ignition on and manipulate the error to occur your lock should be changed it said.
So annoying that I cannot find this now with searching.

You could just mount a starter push button switch to engage the starter.