Sudden Crank/No Start condition - also no accessories in On/Run?

[Johnny6guns]

Originally Posted by Saudade

Yes, a yellow wire and orange wire.

Does sound like the switch is bad or something wrong with the connector. Check the connector for any burn marks (common failure).

If you slide the slider to the first detent (towards the steering wheel), that's the accessory position. Next is Off-lock (steering wheel locked). Then Off-unlock (middle detent). Then On. Finally Start (closest to the firewall). If you use a rod or screwdriver to move the slider, it should spring back to On from the Start position.

When you insert the rod from the column, the key should be in the off-unlock position and the switch in the off-unlock (middle) detent. Don't tighten the switch mounting screws until you have the rod back in place.

I figured out why it cranks in On and corrected that.

Question- what is the brown wire? Where does it go? Whoever I bought this off of did some of their own wiring.

It looks like they tied the yellow wire and the brown wire together in the harness, and brought it down to where it plugs in where the yellow wire goes, across from the ground on the ignition switch.

I feel like i have a mess on my hands now.

[Saudade]

Check the brown wire coming off the switch. That's the one that tends to burn due to the amount of current flowing through it to power the accessories. Look carefully inside the connector.

That too should have power in acc and run positions.

[Saudade]

Originally Posted by Johnny6guns

I figured out why it cranks in On and corrected that.

Question- what is the brown wire? Where does it go? Whoever I bought this off of did some of their own wiring.

It looks like they tied the yellow wire and the brown wire together in the harness, and brought it down to where it plugs in where the yellow wire goes, across from the ground on the ignition switch.

I feel like i have a mess on my hands now.

Oy! Sounds like the previous owner (or someone earlier) had the issue and simply spliced the 2 wires together.

In theory, it should work since the Yellow connects in the ON position, but not in Accessory.

[Johnny6guns]

Originally Posted by Saudade

Check the brown wire coming off the switch. That's the one that tends to burn due to the amount of current flowing through it to power the accessories. Look carefully inside the connector.

That too should have power in acc and run positions.

Ok, so i think we may be narrowing down the issue.

Where should the brown wire connect on the switch? The previous owner seems to have splice the brown wire and the yellow wire together in a "Y" formation, and they both connect to the ignition switch in the place at the yellow wire connects, parallel/above/below the ground depending on how youre looking at it. Or i suppose that could be where the brown wire should connect, and now its yellow?

[Saudade]

If you look at the contacts on the switch, holding it horizontal, there's a row of 2, a row of 4 and a row of three (including the slightly offset 2 grounds). The middle one in the row of 3 should be "A". That should be the brown wire.

If you can see the pin labels, A is connected to B-2 in Accessory and Run.

The Yellow wire is I-1 and connects to B-1 in Run and Start.

On my '88, if I turn the key to ON (engine off) and turn on the radio, turning the key to Start cranks the engine but turns off the radio. As soon as I release the key (back to On), the radio plays again.

[Saudade]

As I go through this thread, I'm starting to recall my own issues with my ignition switch. This predates my joining .

I recall my switch connector was burned at the brown wire. I ended up cutting away the charred plastic leaving a gap. I crimped a blade terminal on the brown wire and after connecting the new switch, pushed the bladed terminal back on the tab in the switch.

Probably close to 20 years ago now. Bought it in 2000.

[Johnny6guns]

Originally Posted by Saudade

As I go through this thread, I'm starting to recall my own issues with my ignition switch. This predates my joining .

I recall my switch connector was burned at the brown wire. I ended up cutting away the charred plastic leaving a gap. I crimped a blade terminal on the brown wire and after connecting the new switch, pushed the bladed terminal back on the tab in the switch.

Probably close to 20 years ago now. Bought it in 2000.

Thank you for the info. I wont be able to get back on this until Friday morning, but Im going to try to run the brown wire back to its appropriate place. As ive been digging through and looking at things, I see where the previous owner spliced all kinds of things together or added other things - Im assuming it used to have a CB radio in it.

I appreciate the help so far and hope youre still around this weekend!

[RCP Phx]

It sounds like a FSM would benefit you greatly!