So my buddie sold his house and I need to bring my 73 home. He has been nice enough to store it for the past couple years on his RV pad. I have been over there the last couple nights trying to get it started. Last summer when I had the car running, the ignition switch started to act up. At first it would do nothing and then it would work but the starter would engage for a split second before the key was turned all the way to the start position. I had to be careful not to have the car in gear or it would lurch. Well this past winter I went over there to start it and it did nothing. I traced the wires back and nothing appeared to be wrong. Yesterday was the same story. Fresh battery and nothing. The headlights worked as well as the hazards and dome light but nothing else. No heater fan, no dash lights, no turnsignals etc. No power to any of the accessories. The starter engaged by jumping the solinoid just fine. So today I went over and dropped the steering column to change the switch underneath the dash (the one that connects to the rod) only to find out it is different on the early cars than the later ones. I had to go back home and pull the one from the 73 column I kept off my last parts car. The ground to the housing was broken so I did a quick fix. I installed the other switch and at first it did nothing then it started to crank the car over but again it would engage the starter for a split second at times, not always as before. I finally got the car started but I had to hold the key in a certain position or the car would die. So either this switch is bad too (which would not surprise me as the guy that owned that car before me did a number on the wiring) or I have the adjustment off. The switch has slotted mounting holes. I installed it in the same position it was on the other column.
Has anyone had a simular problem? How do I check the switch? How do I adjust it properly? Does anyone have a good early switch for sale? I plan on going over there again on Friday to play with it some more. Any help would be appreciated.
You should be able to get one from your local NAPA or Auto Supply store for $12.00 to $15.00. The same switch is used 71-74 Pinto only. About the adjustment I think a new one should come set with a pin in it just bolt it down and pull the pin.
I took my switch apart and fixed it. ( took a loooooog time before it was correct again)
Thanks guys, I ordered the switch from Napa today. $20 and some change plus freight. I should have it by the end of next week.
You might want to invest in a new starter solenoid also.
If the car has been sitting a lot, or if that one has been in there for a lot of years, it may be rusted inside to the point that it isn't always working smoothly or properly, or staying connected until the starter gets the engne started and then disconnecting as it should.
Sometimes when they start to go bad, it can mimic or complicate diagnosing an ignition switch problem, and even if it's not a problem in this case they are cheap and at least you won't have to worry about it again for years.
I put the new switch in tonight and now everything works properly again. The car starts and runs now without having to hold the key down. I will take it home tomorrow 8) Thanks for the help and advice.
Hey Tigger,I agree with goodolboys about the solenoid.I f moisture killed your ignition switch the solenoid could be next.When that happens they usually stick in the energised position so it continuse to turn over till you pull a battery cable or hit it to release the contacts