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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Glitch666 on December 20, 2009, 05:34:22 PM

Title: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: Glitch666 on December 20, 2009, 05:34:22 PM
Hey I have the oddest problem with my 74 runabout. It started as soon as winter started to hit in my area(Lakewood WA). I would get in my car and turn the key and she just would not turn over, had to resort to starting her with a screwdriver everyday. I thought it was the solenoid, didnt help. About a week of starting it with a screwdriver and a new solenoid I decided to try a new ignition switch and still no go. And yesterday I sat down and told it please start and turned the key and nothing. So I turned it again but as I turned the key I kind of sat forward and she started.  :amazed:
I finally tracked down the problem to that stupid 2 wire switch under my seat. I simply unplugged it and its worked fine all day.
Now What exactly are these switches for? Also theres a button under my hood with a 3 prong plug(by the ignition coil) But the plugs out and theres a jumper in it? What was this button for originally?

-just a series of thoughts and and curious questions-
Glitch
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: Pintosopher on December 20, 2009, 06:03:13 PM
 Glitch,

These are seat belt safety ignition interlock, Ford tried to comply with a rather dumb law at the time and this switch and the one under the Hood drove my wife crazy for a few days. Her car was a '74 Runabout too.
Leave 'em unhooked..

Pintosopher
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: Glitch666 on December 20, 2009, 06:12:26 PM
HAHAH, Thanks yeah I unplugged the two seat switches driver and passenger. So the switch under the seat was designed to force me to wear my seat belt before turning the key? I wonder why the switch started working the other day?(I never were my seatbelt before I start the car). So what does that button under the hood actually do?
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: Pintosopher on December 20, 2009, 06:44:20 PM
Glitch
My Book says it's a Starter interlock override reset switch.

Pintosopher
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: dave1987 on December 20, 2009, 08:13:11 PM
Just wondering, did 73 models have this to? I noticed two wires under the passenger seat in my wagon which lean to the butt of the seat. Couldn't find anything under the driver's seat, but I wasn't looking that hard (just vacuuming it out).
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: dga57 on December 20, 2009, 09:00:27 PM
I'm pretty sure that was "1974 only" thing... I had one new and it was a pain in the arse!!!

Dwayne :smile:
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: phils toys on December 21, 2009, 02:30:33 PM
Quote from: dga57 on December 20, 2009, 09:00:27 PM
I'm pretty sure that was "1974 only" thing... I had one new and it was a pain in the arse!!!

Dwayne :smile:
that is my understanding as well
phil
Title: Re: Seat Switches? Car not starting?
Post by: dave1987 on December 21, 2009, 02:51:40 PM
Thank you for clearing that up!