Dang it!

[Curious Hound]

So I went for my haircut this evening. Pulled into the parking lot and turned the key off in my Fun50. Something snapped, engine stopped, but everything still turned on - I have indicator lights, radio, everything works like the key is in "run". Key spins through all positions with no resistance. So I popped the hood and removed two 50 amp fuses related to ignition and one for the in cab fuse panel. At least I'm not running the battery down. Called mom to come help me after my haircut.

So, all properly groomed, I went back out to the not-so-Fun50. Verified the steering was not locked. Yay? Found the starter relay. Did I mention that I had no tools with me? Well, I had a giant box end wrench for trailer hitch balls and a pocket knife. Used the wrench to bridge the starter relay coil and started the truck. Had mom follow me home, hoping I wouldn't jar something and have the steering lock up. Got home and had mom drive me to Advance where I bought a new ignition cylinder and she got wiper blades. Went home and replaced her wiper blades and sent her home. Figured out how to replace the ignition cylinder. It's easier than on my 93 Ranger. That didn't fix it.

Removed the steering wheel trim. I can move the actuator rod easily with a screwdriver. Dang this is looking like a complicated job now. I need to be somewhere an hour away by 10:00 tomorrow morning. Fun50 is broke, Ranger coolant system is empty and the non-A/C heater blower housing still isn't installed. And we're supposed to get severe thunderstorms and possible tornados tonight and tomorrow morning.

Everybody else having a pleasant evening?

 

[Dirtman]

Let's go ahead and get you hugged.

 

[MikeG]

Sipped a little te-kill-ya and watched Monty Python (Holy Grail). So..... maybe a notch above your evening.

Good luck.......

 

[dvdswan]

Was that an English Swallow or an African Swallow?

 

[MikeG]

I don't know.....

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't know.....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you have any sketchy looking trees, double check the not-so fun150's insurance/your homeowners insurance and now is the time to start parking under it before the 'naders crank up.

 

[RonD]

Leave fuses out or battery disconnected
You can unbolt the ignition switch under the steering column(above brake pedal)
Pull it down and out, check that it slides OK and has START return spring working, so its not the problem
Plug it back in to its harness, and put switch in OFF position, 4 positions, ACC OFF RUN START
Hook power back up

Slide it to RUN and dash should light up, then slide it to START, clutch pedal down or Shifter in PARK
And it should start
You can use it this way but NO KEY REQUIRED, lol

Yes, you need to pull steering wheel and disassemble most the the steering column to fix an actuator rod issue depending on whats broken

Loads of videos on doing that, most Ford trucks of similar years used the same parts and setup

 

[racsan]

make you miss the early 70’s when the switch was in the dash, hell just one jumper wire under the hood and a small screwdriver to the solenoid could get you outta the drive & down the road.

 

[Dirtman]

make you miss the early 70’s when the switch was in the dash, hell just one jumper wire under the hood and a small screwdriver to the solenoid could get you outta the drive & down the road.

Yea, stealing cars was so much easier back then...

 

[racsan]

so was borrowing them from dad. once I learned the basics of conventional ignition I had to try it out , right? Worked every time!

 

[Snoranger]

make you miss the early 70’s

No it doesn’t... I wasn’t alive in the early 70’s.

 

[racsan]

well, many early 70’s trucks (and cars) were still going in the mid-80’s, at least 1 F250 was.

 

[Dirtman]

My first truck started by pressing a button on the floor...

 

[Roert42]

You have a pedal for the washer fluid too?