1967 F100 Ignition Switch Troubles

[hillsa]

Unfortunately, about 6-months ago, I lost my keys to the truck and couldn't find the spare set. So, I bought a new ignition switch/cylinder assembly (with keys included) from NAPA and installed it to get the truck running again. Everything worked fine for about two weeks, then when trying to start the truck, the plastic section of the switch that is crimped onto the metal portion of the switch came loose and spilled all the internal guts of the switch onto the floorboard of the truck. I took the switch back to NAPA and got a replacement switch. Some short time later, the same thing happened again.

I have repeated this operation about 4 times now and am wondering if I need to just fork over some additional money for another switch from a different auto parts supplier, put in a push button starter switch with a toggle switch to make the ignition hot, or get some guidance that maybe my installation of these switches is faulty somehow. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

[fordman]

take your orignal switch to a lock smith and get the lock picked and get a new key made for it. napa usually has good stuff. mayeb this is one of those things that is only made in china now who knows. or maybe you could wrap the next new one with duct tape to make sure it doesnt come apart again. but that not a good thing to have to do to new parts.

[hillsa]

Unfortunately, the old switch was tossed since I didn't think that we would find the keys. I've thought about putting some form of "insurance" strap across the two halves but didn't think that I should have to on a new part. The original one worked for 40-years until the keys were lost. Anyway, I decided that I would eat the cost (~$35) and buy a replacement from our local Mom & Pop auto parts store in town to see if it would do any better. I checked and this one will be a Standard brand ignition switch & the store owner has had good luck with the vendor (in business a long time and large distributer of parts). We'll see.

[hillsa]

Wanted to post a quick update on my adventures with ignition switches. This last one that I bought failed as well but this time the failure wasn't mechanical but rather electrical. The first sign of an issue was that the truck wouldn't shut off once started. Then, then the switch quit working altogether. My son removed the switch and took it down for a warranty replacement and when he went to install the new one, noticed that the green ignition wire was melted. When I took a look at it, I found that the whole left side of the wiring harness in the dash was damaged (the melted ignition wire melted the insulation on numerous wires in the bundle) with additional damage in the wiring harness that runs out through the firewall on the driver's side. Now, in addition to looking for an ignition switch that works, we are now shopping for a new wiring harness.

[rjewkes]

for future reference, as long as the passenger door lock and the ignition tumbler are original to each other any compitent locksmith can build a key from scratch with the numbers off of the passenger door lock.

[fordman]

i have heard that from the locksmith. but when i took in a set of door locks there were no numbers on the door locks. maybe the one set i took in was replaced at one time i dont know.