[Stangboy69]

About 2 weeks ago I got in my car to go for a quick drive and it wouldn't start. All lights and buzzers came on but no starter. No problem I thought, probably just a low battery. (car doesnt get driven much) I charged the battery, tried again.... Nothing. I finally decided to jump the posts on the starter relay just for the hell of it and... vrooom.
OK no big deal, with the original relay still in place I figured it was the root of the problem. I ordered up a new motorcraft relay, slapped it in and NOTHING!
So now I'm guessing it's possibly my ignition switch but I'm not sure I want to dig into the steering column. Anyone have experience with this? Could it possibly be something other than the ignition switch that I haven't thought of yet?
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ronbuell]

Possible, yes, but the probability of the switch being the problem is about 90%+. Everything will work, just nothing to the starter motor. Its really not that big a deal. It plugs in at the bottom the steering column so if you had to, you could just plug a new one in there to test if yours is bad. A new one is about $15. If you have air bag, disconnect the battery so it doesn't go off in your face. There are 2 screws going in from the bottom of the covers over the column, remove those and the covers come off. Put the key in and turn it to the run position. Use a 1/8" drill bit and drill out the secruity screws holding the switch in or use a dremmel and cut slots, or grind off heads and remove the switch. Remove the bolts then. To put the new switch in, put it into the run position and place it into position. You will need new bolts as the others are ruined. I used regular bolts and put loctite on them and tighten. Plug in the harness. Install the covers and put the battery cable back on.

 

[FALCONAROUND]

Check the Screws holding the IGN switch to the Column's lower end, if possible loosen them and slide it upward and try it then, if still no worky worky then lower it a little and if it still no worky worky then get a new one.... Make SURE TO BYPASS THE Neutral Safety switch first... if that's bad the ignition will do the same thing as showing a bad switch!

FE

 

[Stangboy69]

hmm interesting... the ign switch change sounds like a bitch and a half.. but if i have to ... i'll do it.
The airbag in the face doesnt sound good tho...
Anyway how do i bypass the neutral safety switch? I've got an AOD..

 

[Stangboy69]

Ok ALOT has changed since my last post. The AOD came out in favor of a near new t-56 with centerforce clutch from my cousins wrecked mustang. Also the car STILL won't start with the ignition switch. I had hoped any neutral safety switch problem would be eliminated in the manual swap but no. I picked up a new ignition switch and installed it. Still NOTHING. I'm starting to get really worried that I'm going to have to troubleshoot all the ignition wiring and that does NOT sound like fun. If anyone has any ideas I would sure appreciate them. Thanks alot

 

[5851a]

Don't know much about the newer stuff or the T-56 but I dont think you can just unplug the neutral/ park switch. It would have to be jumpered.

 

[Stangboy69]

Ok I found the problem. It was the ignition wire that attaches to the starter relay on the inner fender. The actual copper 90 degree connector was broken inside the boot. I couldnt find a new connector with a boot like that anywhere so I used a blue 14 guage bullet connector and crimped it onto the wire and it slipped right onto the stud with a little force. Problem solved.

 

[FALCONAROUND]

Cool Beans!


FE