bobjohnson5000
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- Joined
- Mar 26, 2025
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Ignition Switch Problem
So far, I have replaced Battery, Starter, relay and ignition switch.
I am assuming it is shorting out somewhere. Before I started replacing things;
It would take 3 to 5 times of turning the key from the on to start position to get the truck to starter to engage and start the car. Some of the attempts, you could hear the relay click and some not. This would only occur on the first start of the day. Running around town, it would start on the first try, multiple times in the day.
As the problem got worse, it would take sometimes 6 to 10 times of turning the key from the on position to the start position to get the car to start. The actual turning the key from “on” to start also seemed to be getting sloppier.
The starter would also struggle some when starting but would start the car, and seemed to struggle on later starts in the day when the car was starting on first attempt.
Replaced the battery
Again, after multiple start try’s, it would start, the rest of the day was no problems. but that did not seem to help with the struggling start.
Then replaced starter.
Now I can’t get it to turn over at/start at all.
Replaced the relay. Also hooked up the battery and shorted the relay circuit and the starter turns over fine, did not sound like it was struggling as before. (I think the starter was going) So I have power to the relay box, again, assuming short/bad ground between ignition switch and ?????. Have not figured out the path of the small voltage from the ignition switch thru the ECM or ??? before getting to the relay.
Replaced ignition switch.
When I installed the new switch, with the white gear rolled all the way to the left, as I believe the way it was set on the old one, the key turns on everything, everything looks correct, but the key won’t turn far enough to engage the starter. When I rotate the white gear all the way to the right, as it came out of the box, the key won’t turn at all. I moved the gear to an in-between, the key turns everything on, looks and works normal, but when I turn the key to the start position, which it moves to easily, the lights all dim and the starter does not engage. No relay clicking, just looks like it is shorting/grounding out.
If I thought it would not harm anything, I would just put a push button switch wired directly to the relay from the steering column to start the car and be done with it.
I found the switch diagram on line, which is how I found this site. Thought it best to check to see if anyone had any thoughts before I screw something up (more) or have it towed to a dealer for $225/hr investigatory looksee.
Thanks
So far, I have replaced Battery, Starter, relay and ignition switch.
I am assuming it is shorting out somewhere. Before I started replacing things;
It would take 3 to 5 times of turning the key from the on to start position to get the truck to starter to engage and start the car. Some of the attempts, you could hear the relay click and some not. This would only occur on the first start of the day. Running around town, it would start on the first try, multiple times in the day.
As the problem got worse, it would take sometimes 6 to 10 times of turning the key from the on position to the start position to get the car to start. The actual turning the key from “on” to start also seemed to be getting sloppier.
The starter would also struggle some when starting but would start the car, and seemed to struggle on later starts in the day when the car was starting on first attempt.
Replaced the battery
Again, after multiple start try’s, it would start, the rest of the day was no problems. but that did not seem to help with the struggling start.
Then replaced starter.
Now I can’t get it to turn over at/start at all.
Replaced the relay. Also hooked up the battery and shorted the relay circuit and the starter turns over fine, did not sound like it was struggling as before. (I think the starter was going) So I have power to the relay box, again, assuming short/bad ground between ignition switch and ?????. Have not figured out the path of the small voltage from the ignition switch thru the ECM or ??? before getting to the relay.
Replaced ignition switch.
When I installed the new switch, with the white gear rolled all the way to the left, as I believe the way it was set on the old one, the key turns on everything, everything looks correct, but the key won’t turn far enough to engage the starter. When I rotate the white gear all the way to the right, as it came out of the box, the key won’t turn at all. I moved the gear to an in-between, the key turns everything on, looks and works normal, but when I turn the key to the start position, which it moves to easily, the lights all dim and the starter does not engage. No relay clicking, just looks like it is shorting/grounding out.
If I thought it would not harm anything, I would just put a push button switch wired directly to the relay from the steering column to start the car and be done with it.
I found the switch diagram on line, which is how I found this site. Thought it best to check to see if anyone had any thoughts before I screw something up (more) or have it towed to a dealer for $225/hr investigatory looksee.
Thanks
