One day my daughter calls from work "Mom, the car won't shut off" (I should be relieved, as it wouldn't start for along time) Anyway, she turned it off, pulled the key out, started to gather stuff, car's still running. She puts the key back in, jiggles it, still running. Puts key in again, turns to acc, turns it off, car stops. Didn't do it again for a month, then it does it randomly over a weeks time, now, there's nothing when you turn the key. It has a new timing chain/gasket, oil pan gasket, alternator, starter and voltage regulator. Anyway, it did this once or twice before I got the new stuff in, she drove it a week, and now it's dead in the water. Ignition switch or (shudder) wiring? Where do I start looking? Rhonda
I suspect your ignition switch is going bad but I would change out the solenoid first since is it cheap and the easiest thing to do. The ingintion switch mounts on top of the column under the dash. They are only about $10-$15 but a little more difficult to get to.
The starter switch is bad. It's on top of the steering column under the dash. Drop down the steering cloumn & 2 nuts hold it to the column. Just unplug the old switch & pull out the shaft. Replace with new. I had that happen when I went to Lewiston, ID. It's costs under $20. Only takes about an hour at the most to replace. Just remember to disconnect the battery first (just in case). Good luck....
I had a starter solenoid act the same way. Remember play it safe and disconnect the battery cable before messing with anything electrical.
Thats what they want you to believe. Thats the only way that those little towns in that area maintain existence First they sabotage your vehicle so you cant leave and then they find some way to get you to mingle with the locals and next thing you know you are buying a house and going to neighborhood socials
Hmm, could be our town you're talking about! Well, the nearest town, anyway. Only difference is, we're still the "new" family whose kids don't go to school (we homeschool). You'd think, after 7 years, someone else could be the new family. Anyway, the solenoid was replaced a couple of months before we started driving it regularly, but before all the other stuff was done. so, it has been in use since Christmas. Is there a way to check it before I just replace it? I thought you could turn the ignition on, and jump it from positive cable to the nearest post. Not completely bypass it? sometimes I get things mixed up, but that just keeps running around in my head. Rhonda
Yes, it can be tested but you need either a test light or volt meter. You mentioned jumping the solenoid to start the engine. The small terminal that you are jumping to on the solenoid should have voltage when you turn the key to the start position. If there is no voltage then you most likely have a bad ignition switch. If there is voltage there I would go ahead and swap out the solenoid again. I once changed out 3 different new solenoids before getting a good one.
Yeah me too... sad to say I have had the best luck going out to the junkyards and finding the original ford solenoids and using those instead of the chinese garbage you get at most places. I pulled one out of an early 70s ford to use in my 1970 f250 about 4 years ago and it is still working good, before that I went through 3 solenoids in 2 weeks 2 of them would not work out of the box.
That's what I was thinking. I actually have a test light, and a volt meter, among other things, just not sure how to use all the stuff here. As we speak, the car is running. Went out to try it, and it fired right up. last night, nothing. I'll see if it'll shut off, though! I'm getting the switch tomorrow when I go into town. Can't be any harder than trying to wrestle the new starter into the spot it goes. If my husband hadn't have gotten in off the road when he did, I'm afraid he would have been searching the back pasture for the starter. I was ready to heave it over the fence! He wasn't thrilled about climbing under the car right away, but I was anxious to try it out! Lots of things I can do, I just don't have the arm-strength of a guy. Learning as I go, guys, thanks. Rhonda
