No crank no start, red-blue ignition wire does not have 12V

[Ranger_Lobo]

1998 4.0 XLT. All fuses tested ok.

I recently did valve covers and intake gaskets. My first time doing any work so I could've messed that up. When I went to start it didn't start. Tested battery and it was bad and I got a new battery. Still nothing. Got a new starter, still nothing. Old starter tested good as well.

So I connected the battery to the starter signal switch and it cranks, so starter and battery are fine.

Went up the chain and tapped the red/blue wire on ignition. I understand is it should get 12V when ignition is in start, but I get <1V and it quickly drops to 0.

So my question is,

1 how does power go from the battery to the ignition? Maybe I messed up that connection?
2 is there a ground on the ignition somewhere I might've knocked loose?

 

[franklin2]

Here is a 97 diagram. Yours should follow the same theme. You have a thick wire that leaves the battery side of the solenoid, and feeds the underhood fuse box. It goes through a 50 amp maxi fuse and then goes through the firewall and feeds the ignition switch.

 

[Ranger_Lobo]

Thanks! Tapped all yellow wires and confirmed they had 12V.

Replaced the ignition switch and it's all working now. Red/blue now has 12V in start.

Crazy coincidence that the ignition switch broke after doing valve covers.

 

[SenorNoob]

That kinda thing happens all the time. Just unlucky. You probably shouldn't buy any lottery tickets. LOL