Ignition Switch Problem??

[TNIceWolf]

ummmm........... it would seem from what you have said that the battery is holding charge. If you have already replaced the solenoid switch my next best guess would be the starter. I have watched many of your posts since you got that truck I would absolutely kill for.....but I cant recall if the starter ever got replaced?


Edit.....as far as the five minuites of run time....whats it going to matter if you fry a set of points if you are moving it to replace it with a electronic system anyway?

[LuvMyScamper]

ummmm........... it would seem from what you have said that the battery is holding charge. If you have already replaced the solenoid switch my next best guess would be the starter. I have watched many of your posts since you got that truck I would absolutely kill for.....but I cant recall if the starter ever got replaced?


Edit.....as far as the five minuites of run time....whats it going to matter if you fry a set of points if you are moving it to replace it with a electronic system anyway?

We replaced the starter last year, so I would think it should be good (less than 3000kms on it). Plus, that shouldn't affect the accessories not working when the key is turned to accessory right? Oh and another thing I forgot to mention...when I put on that old coil and got nothing when I turned the key, I have no power to anything - no accessories or even lights.

That's exactly what I was thinking about the points...if they'll survive a 5-minute drive and that's the only harm that will be done from using that coil, I may as well put it on.

Glad you like the truck! We love it too and it treated us really well on that 1400km trip. Once I get my pics edited I plan to do a thread about the trip and post up some pics. The thread will be titled "Bump Goes on Vacation" . We got a lot of people asking about it I can tell you that!

[mrollings53]

Changing the coil won't effect the other electrical circuits in the truck. So, it can't explain why the radio isn't working. I'm going to throw a couple of suggestions out to check out.

1: Can you jump the solenoid to start the truck? Put the ignition in the "ON" position and take a screwdriver with a rubber handle and short the solenoid between battery side post and the small post closest to it. It should turn over no matter what position the ignition switch is in, but will only stay running if the switch is in the on position.

1A: If it stays on check the neutral safety switch on the steering column. Jiggle the gear shifter while trying to start with the key. If it's truns over in any position but Park and Neutral while doing this then your neutral safety switch needs to be adjusted.

1B: If it doesn't stay running check the connections at the back of the ignition switch. Check for loose wire connection and corroded terminals. Everything that's required to start and run the truck runs through the switch.

2: Check the fuse block for loose connections, corrosion, and bad fuses. The black/green stripe wire from the ignition switch is what powers most of the accessories at the fuse block.

Here's a wiring diagram and wire color guide for your truck. If the first two ideas don't pan out then you will have to follow the wires checking for continuity. Look for loose connections and corroded terminals, as well as breaks in any wires and chaffing where wires pass through the firewall or are against sharp edges.

http://www.fordification.com/tech/wirin ... master.jpg

[sargentrs]

I had similar gremlins with mine a while back. Crank it, turn the key off, then nothing. Over and over and random times. Replaced solenoid twice, voltage regulator, cables, coil, starter, cleaned grounds, etc. Then started to replace solenoid again and found out I had a bad wire from the alternator(?) to the solenoid. The wire was corroded and finally broke on the 3rd removal. Center wire on the left side of the solenoid in this pic (not my truck). Trimmed the wire and put on a new ring terminal and had no more issues.

[LuvMyScamper]

Thanks for all the tips guys.

We're definitely thinking there's some kind of short happening. This morning, I checked all the wiring coming out of the ignition switch. Everything looks clean, no cracked or frayed wires. Fuse panel looks good too - no blown fuses, nice and clean. Since this is an RV it has a battery isolator. The wires that go into it were badly corroded, cracked and melted. I thought "Ah ha!" so I cleaned it up completely, cut off the corroded/burnt wire ends and reattached them with fresh clean ends. I put the negative battery cable cable back on and crossed my fingers. I first turned the key to accessory, and all accessories seem to work. I'm seeing a pattern here now...whenever I disconnect the battery and then hook it back up the accessories work. When I go to try and start it, I get "click" and everything gets shut down - no accessories any more until I disconnect the battery and reconnect it again.

I did more looking around at the wires, and all the wiring seems good to the solenoid, nothing looks brittle or cracked. I didn't try jumping the starter yet because we don't have a screwdriver long enough. When my neighbor gets home I'll see if he has one.

The ground from the neg. battery terminal to the block was good and clean. We just replaced the alternator less than 3000kms ago and it was cleaned up good at the time.

I then checked the ground strap from the engine to the firewall. VERY BAD!!!! It was totally cracked and brittle with exposed bare wire, and there was rust on connection ends. My hubby is going to pick up a new one this afternoon.

Could this ground strap be the cause of our problem?

[Kurt Combs]

You don't by chance have a broken battery do you? If someone cranks down too hard on the bolts holding the battery cable it can break stuff inside.

[LuvMyScamper]

You don't by chance have a broken battery do you? If someone cranks down too hard on the bolts holding the battery cable it can break stuff inside.

No, I don't believe that can be it because the truck worked fine for our whole five-day trip, and the next day after we got home my hubby went out to move it and it wouldn't start. The battery wasn't touched at all.

[Ranchero50]

We're definitely thinking there's some kind of short happening.

Shorts make smoke, opens keep things from working.

I put the negative battery cable cable back on and crossed my fingers. I first turned the key to accessory, and all accessories seem to work. I'm seeing a pattern here now...whenever I disconnect the battery and then hook it back up the accessories work. When I go to try and start it, I get "click" and everything gets shut down - no accessories any more until I disconnect the battery and reconnect it again.

I think you found the problem

Clean you battery cables and the battery terminals until they shine. Paste them with some grease too before you put them together.

[LuvMyScamper]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

Not sure which one did it, but we replaced the ground strap and replaced the negative battery cable and she starts again. Yee haw!

Thanks everyone for your help!

[basketcase0302]

[sargentrs]

Congrats! Now get in her, drive her around and tell her what a good girl she is.

[LuvMyScamper]

Congrats! Now get in her, drive her around and tell her what a good girl she is.

We'll do that!

[Kurt Combs]

Congratulations on getting her going! Seems like a lot of times it is the simple stuff that causes us problems.

[Mudbone2005]

Sorry to high jack this thread but I have the same problem sort of. When I try to start my truck I lose power and the interior light or any thing electrical will not work. When I remove the cable to the start everything is returns. Now I notice that the cable to the starter melted a little from touch the header. I made sure the it was not touching just in case this was shorting it out. Also when I leave the starter cable off and turn igniton it dose not happen I can hear the voltage regulator clicking. So question could starter actually be shorting out truck and making this happen or the cable?

[Mudbone2005]

PROBLEM SOLVED

Noticed that postive side battery cable was a little loose and corrsion also. Clean it up and tighten it and my Baby fired right up.