Ignition Switch Fire

[SD Ranger]

1990 Ranger. New to the forum and would appreciate any advice from you Ford guys. Im a classic VW guy but I bought this little truck for my son to drive. Its been a great truck so far but this week we had a problem. Iginition Switch went out in a bad way. Caught on fire. Not the part you put the key in but the part further down the steering column where the wiring harness plugs in. Replaced the switch and the wiring harness since they were melted together. Assuming i have wired the new harness to the old leads (which I am pretty sure I have) any ideas on why Im not getting any response at all when I turn the key. It's giving me a response like it would if I didnt have the Clutch depressed when trying to start. Stone cold silence. Battery is good.

 

[93greenbomb]

have you tried taking it outa gear setting the e brake turning the key on and jumping the solenoid and seeing if it will start also could check they relay that fives power to the switch in the power distribution box, could shorted out.
hope this helps

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

fuses have likely been blown, it caught fire because the ignition switch shorted out, or the starter relay shorted out

 

[trail B2]

Maybe a good place to start is to check the start circuit for power at the plug in the back most books will tell you the color of the wire.If you getting power in and out the switch are you doing the same for the clutch after everything has changed are you getting power to the rest of the run circuit? The other thing to check is the switch adjusted properly in the slots to pull the plunger in the switch all the way back.