Toolkit for ignition switch.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

91

Ignition switch seems to be going out.

I am way too busy with other stuff to just get out there and fix or repair it.

Yet it might leave me stranded in town sometime.

Thinking I'd better toss together a small toolkit with the tools I am going to need, to be able to jury rig it to get home.

Along with a coat hanger, of course. LOL

Can someone who has done this, tell me the tools I am going to need if I find myself stranded in a parking lot somewhere?

It would be nice if someone had some pictures of the process, too.

riphip · Sep 27, 2020

My tools for something like that is:

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for

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or

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to get it home until I can fix it.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

not very helpful, my friend.

riphip · Sep 27, 2020

I ended up putting a push button start on mine. Key on, wait for GPs, push button to start. Mine is '86 with tilt which is almost as bad when it messes up.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

Now yer talking!

But I was thiking of just using a coat hanger to reach in there and push the switch, to get me home.

I like the idea of a pushbutton starter switch!

Philip1 · Sep 27, 2020

I would say 2-3 jumper wires. To energize the shutoff solenoid, glowplug controller and starter solenoid. Just make sure its out of gear first before starting if manual.

hacked89 · Sep 27, 2020

I have push button start on my truck but use the key to turn the ignition on. My other beater car I use no keys.

Toggle switch for ignition on
Push button start

I also hid a dead man's switch which interrupts the cars body control module so if you don't know where that is that car will turn over but not run.

If I did the same on the truck I would just interrupt the FSS.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

chillman88 · Sep 27, 2020

Usually when the switch fails you can still turn it on, just won't crank. If that happens all you need to do is jump the starter solenoid.

If it won't go to the run position, the actual ignition switch is bolted to the bottom of the column with two 7/16 nuts. Might be able to get it unbolted and slide the switch into place with a screwdriver or something.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

chillman88 said:
Usually when the switch fails you can still turn it on, just won't crank. If that happens all you need to do is jump the starter solenoid.

If it won't go to the run position, the actual ignition switch is bolted to the bottom of the column with two 7/16 nuts. Might be able to get it unbolted and slide the switch into place with a screwdriver or something.

What's funny, is that that occurred to me... AFTER I posted this thread. LOL

Just turn it on, run the glowplugs long enough, then jumper the solenoid.

In fact, since it is getting stranded in town that I am concerned with, I won't even need the glowplugs to run. Always starts right up, after it is warmed up.

Still, I'll make sure to take some tools. I thought I'd need something like a torx screwdriver and some other tools.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

By the way. I am trying to build an addition on my tiny house, by myself. Too busy with that, to get busy on the truck, for now. But I know the truck will strand me if I am not at least prepared.

chillman88 · Sep 27, 2020

Selahdoor said:
By the way. I am trying to build an addition on my tiny house, by myself. Too busy with that, to get busy on the truck, for now. But I know the truck will strand me if I am not at least prepared.

It'll be completely fine until you take the toolbox out to fit whatever else in for that one quick trip.....

Cubey · Sep 27, 2020

chillman88 said:
It'll be completely fine until you take the toolbox out to fit whatever else in for that one quick trip.....

My F250 gave warnings before the actuator broke. Sometimes it wouldn't engage the starter. Then one morning it finally broke.

If you are too busy to do a proper mod, one of these work in a pinch:
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-remote-starter-switch-35448.html

If you want something heavier duty than HFT:
www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7760022

Have the key turned to on, in P/N with parking brake set, clip it on the proper terminals of your starter relay and push the button to start the motor. Then remove the switch, close the hood, and drive away.

snicklas · Sep 27, 2020

Absolute "Oh S**T" emergency.....

Turn key to unlock the steering wheel. If it goes the the "run" position, jump starter solenoid.

If truck is still dead but the wheel is unlocked. Jumper from battery to FSS on the pump (could even use a set of booster cables in a pinch), jump starter solenoid. If cold, a whiff of "Start ya *******"......

If the key moves and the wheel is still locked.... give a good hard turn on the wheel to break the steering lock, then follow 2nd from above.....

Or, if it still works now from off to run, put in a pushbutton for the starter. All my IDI's have been this way.... saves life on the POS pot-metal actuator......

Also, if it's like all mine that have broken, it WILL break on the coldest f-in day of the year..........

Cubey · Sep 27, 2020

snicklas said:
Also, if it's like all mine that have broken, it WILL break on the coldest f-in day of the year..........

My RV saw low teens one morning last fall in the TX panhandle... but it was being heated inside and I didn't drive it that particular day. I was at a free RV park with electric, so I ran the block heater (with a new cord) for at least an hour on the day I did leave, a day or two later. The fresh water lines froze in a vulnerable place that morning but I had the pump off and the taps open with no pressure on them, so it didn't break the lines. A tiny rubber hot water bottle shoved in the small cubby area radiated enough heat to quickly defrost the lines.

Selahdoor · Sep 27, 2020

chillman88 said:
It'll be completely fine until you take the toolbox out to fit whatever else in for that one quick trip.....

Oh shut up! I rebuke that statement! LOL

Cubey said:
My F250 gave warnings before the actuator broke. Sometimes it wouldn't engage the starter. Then one morning it finally broke.

If you are too busy to do a proper mod, one of these work in a pinch:
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-remote-starter-switch-35448.html

If you want something heavier duty than HFT:
www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7760022

Have the key turned to on, in P/N with parking brake set, clip it on the proper terminals of your starter relay and push the button to start the motor. Then remove the switch, close the hood, and drive away.

Faster to do all that and just jumper the solenoid with a screwdriver.

If I decide to do something more semi-permanent, it's possible I would set this up, run it inside the cab, and use it that way.

Toolkit for ignition switch.

Selahdoor

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riphip

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Selahdoor

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Selahdoor

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Philip1

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hacked89

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chillman88

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Selahdoor

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Cubey

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