Ignition button plan; need help!

[Curious Hound]

This is the second time you have tried to shut me down like I’m an idiot. Perhaps you should read my description again and rethink your response. All this is done with 1 toggle and one momentary switch.

Not trying to shut anyone down. I’m sorry if it seemed that way. Just going by the electrical diagrams and 42 years experience as an electrician.

 

[tw205]

Not trying to shut anyone down. I’m sorry if it seemed that way. Just going by the electrical diagrams and 42 years experience as an electrician.

And again you do it as soon as you say you’re not. I’ll show how it’s done. Seems you’re not as good an electrician as you aspire to be. I drive the truck every day. Set an appointment. I’ll give you a lesson.

 

[RobbieD]

If I may comment; I don't think anybody is dissing anybody else or trying to shut down anybody else.

We all have our differing preferences on our trucks, and how we fix and modify them.

Although I did aftermarket electrical accessories for years for a living, including a lot of custom wiring, in a situation like this I'd just get another steering column.

The OP can go either way. Adding switches to run the truck will work, or replacing the busted column will work.

So in the end, it's what the truck owner prefers to do. In my opinion, replacing the column would be easier and more dependable. If the owner leans toward having custom features and functions, then it's a golden opportunity to wire in some switches.

 

[tw205]

If I may comment; I don't think anybody is dissing anybody else or trying to shut down anybody else.

We all have our differing preferences on our trucks, and how we fix and modify them.

Although I did aftermarket electrical accessories for years for a living, including a lot of custom wiring, in a situation like this I'd just get another steering column.

The OP can go either way. Adding switches to run the truck will work, or replacing the busted column will work.

So in the end, it's what the truck owner prefers to do. In my opinion, replacing the column would be easier and more dependable. If the owner leans toward having custom features and functions, then it's a golden opportunity to wire in some switches.

In a proper perfect world changing the column would be the thing to do but, this member specifically asked for the very thing I shared with them.
I know it can be done. I have done it. Telling them it can’t be done is ignorant or dishonest take your pick. I’ve been an electrician for over 20 years and am more than capable of lending my knowledge to anyone I see fit to share.

 

[RobbieD]

Telling them it can’t be done is ignorant or dishonest take your pick.

Nobody has said it can't be done.

 

[sgtsandman]

Ok, time for everyone to cool down.

 

[tw205]

It will take more than a common single pole toggle switch to do this because there are several circuits that must be energized.

What’s that? Can’t be done with a common single pole? I did it. Just sayin.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

In my opinion, replacing the column would be easier and more dependable.

Thanks for all the input. I'm not sure why these sort of discussions become somewhat heated, but it doesn't really phase me, so no biggie.

Given that this is not my truck (it's my neighbor's), I actually am now leaning more towards getting a junkyard column and keeping it stock. I see that lock tumblers with 2 keys are readily available for short money, so that won't be an obstacle.

Just looking on car-part.com, it would seem that '89 - '94 is the same column (with a bunch of different options - tilt, cruise, trans type). Kinda weird that the year-span is not consistent with the 2nd gen starting in '93, but I guess that was mostly cosmetic.

 

[RobbieD]

Yes, 1989 through 1994 columns are basically the same animal.

The main differences are 1) auto/manual and 2) tilt/non-tilt wheel. The cruise is really just the steering wheel pad and clockspring.

And they can be built up as needed, to a degree; most parts interchange between the two basic flavors. When I converted my B2 from auto to manual, I used parts from the original tilt with cruise auto column to rebuild the donor truck's non-tilt and non-cruise manual column into what I needed (a manual column with tilt and cruise). Even the steering wheel lock and release is an easy change of parts.

Kinda weird that the year-span is not consistent with the 2nd gen starting in '93, but I guess that was mostly cosmetic.

Even though the exterior sheet metal changed in '93, the interior carried over for two more years, until the '95 interior redesign brought in a driver airbag, the new cluster and OBD2 sorcery in general.

Whichever way you go, good luck!

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Yes, 1989 through 1994 columns are basically the same animal.

The main differences are 1) auto/manual and 2) tilt/non-tilt wheel. The cruise is really just the steering wheel pad and clockspring.

And they can be built up as needed, to a degree; most parts interchange between the two basic flavors. When I converted my B2 from auto to manual, I used parts from the original tilt with cruise auto column to rebuild the donor truck's non-tilt and non-cruise manual column into what I needed (a manual column with tilt and cruise). Even the steering wheel lock and release is an easy change of parts.

Thanks for confirming what I suspected was the case. Pre-'95 Rangers have gotten somewhat scarce in the junkyards due to their age, so it's good to have options.