Bad ignition switch or starter?

qwertyd10n · Post by **qwertyd10n** » May 22, 2009, 11:22 pm

Hey guys,

I've had something weird happen a couple times lately... I shut the truck off and then when I come back to it (could be a very short time or longer), it won't even turn over. Battery is fine, just no juice seems to be getting to the starter. I wait a minute, re-insert the key, try again and away it goes.

I think it might be my ignition switch giving up the ghost, but am wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem (I'm guessing so).

Cheers,
Dion

moondog · Post by **moondog** » May 22, 2009, 11:33 pm

Dion,
had the same problem with mine. It was the voltage regulator.
Roger H.

MattsIASlickShop · Post by **MattsIASlickShop** » May 23, 2009, 12:03 am

Is your solenoid clicking when you turn the key? What happens when you jump from the battery side lug to the small ignition switch lug on the solenoid? If the starter works right, the switch circuit is bad.
How about when you cross the two big lugs?
If the starter works right, the solenoid is bad.
Oh yeah, you probably should make sure the tranny is in neutral. being parked on a flat surface is a plus too.

qwertyd10n · Post by **qwertyd10n** » May 23, 2009, 12:23 am

No clicking when I turn the key... dash lights are on, but nothing happens.

MattsIASlickShop · Post by **MattsIASlickShop** » May 23, 2009, 1:54 am

an even easier thing to check would be that the wire from the switch is still attached to the lug on the solenoid.
Also, I have seen where the two smaller wires to the solenoid accidentally get reversed and the solenoid won't work.

The fuse might be bad, use a volt meter to check to see if you have power from the switch to the solenoid.

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » May 23, 2009, 9:05 am

You might drop the whole switch out of the dash and look close at where it is put together. Mine did the intermittant start thing a few years ago, and then all of a sudden the switch came apart under the dash. The front and back parts are only crimped together and the pot metal is not that good.

Fred

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » May 23, 2009, 10:53 am

Fred,i had almost the same thing happen. started out with the switch not springing back from the start position, then it would only turn one way, to ACC. took it out was barely hanging together by 1 crimp.