Ignition Switch? Won't Start

Ok, the battery will turn on the radio, lights etc. But on the second click, everything goes dead. Battery is at 12.53 now, ran it down a bit, and the emergency buzzer makes a weird click. I think its the switch, the lights also were flashing (radio) on the first click when I took off the plastic panel. The green key circle light was also flickering/going off. The replacement seems easy enough. But is that the electrical part, the key switch? Looks like it just pops out with a small screwdriver. How do I test this thing? Thanks

 

Check and make sure you have a solid ground of the negative cable at the block and do a starter draw test before you shotgun a new ignition switch. Sounds like the starter is drawing so much amperage that it sucks the system of power.

 

Ok, thanks- can the starter draw test be done with a regular voltmeter?

Looking in the book, it says to check the solenoid: Connect jumper lead between battery (+) and the ignition switch terminal(small) on the solenoid?. This has the smaller plastic clip going into it? (starter connector)

Is that the (clip) wire that runs from the battery to the starter-accessible from under the truck? How do you do a connection to that?

 

A "hint" to an ignition switch circuit problem will show at "key on/engine off".

Do your instrument panel warning lights come on as normal when you turn the key to the "run" position?

if so, look elsewhere.

if not, looking into the IS circuits wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

The first turn of the switch, some lights come on to panel, (Airbag switch etc) but they started to flicker, including the stereo. The round key light is on / off interment/ randomly. Turned on the flashers and it sounded really bad. (12.55 volts) Battery was at 12.70+ but radio, buzzer etc ran it down a bit.

There was a click, and I did get one jumpstart first time this happened. Jumping does nothing now. No more ignition clicks.

Book says if NO click sound from starter, could be starter relay also. But nothing on diagnose. Also says could be blown fuse, but what blew it?

 

Follow this guys lead
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Yep, just went thru this & it was a bad ground to block & it makes your electrical go batshit with weirdness...

 

Uhm, well, I went in for an oil change, to a reputable shop couple days ago, and the truck is at an incline, and it looks like there was some 'new' oil put in, but I wiped the stick, the oil stick is completely f***ing dry.

I drove 2 miles, (5 miles stop 5 miles) at 35mph=12 miles all together. Could the engine be seized?

I did just now get it to start ONCE, the solenoid 'clicks' at times. the battery lights come on on second ignition.

I will try to get it to level ground in the front. But I may have seizure, but it did start. Can I swear here? *#$&@&#@()@()!!!!

 

No, watch your fuckin' language....

 

Lol! Well ok

Oh, *@@&!($(%*#*!!*

So, the truck starts, it has oil, on level ground. When on the slope driveway, it won't start. So If I pull over on the side of the road on an upward incline, no &!#$@%&$!! start!

Any ideas? !@#(!)!!! Well, its better than no start at all I guess. Ah maybe a new thread..

 

Have gas in it? Sorry. Someone has to ask!

 

Lol, yes, plenty gas, negative is grounded, and yea, the oil was totally dry at the angle it was at so it was a valid question.

The starter motor wont turn over, it plays dead at that angle. I think its probably a wiring issue. I do get a solenoid 'click' for the most part.

I should say uphill incline the starter won't kick, but I do mostly get battery juice to radio etc, it starts on a downhill incline.

 

Sounds like a possible case of a bad starter. When it doesn't start have some one tap on the starter with a hammer while you turn the ignition key. This usually jars the starter into turning over.

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have diagnosed a bad starter using this method. In the shop I work at we call it the electrical component "tap" test because you can get a lot of electrical things to start working (even for just a few seconds) to tell if the part is bad or not.

 

Yea, replacement is probably the way to go. How much will that run for a starter on a 4.2 with your average labor?

 

Battery leads were corroded. Simple fix this time.

 

I should've thought of that. Glad you figured it out!!