No crank/start condition

[GetItMuddy]

Alright fellas,
Im rusty on old school electronics so I could use a hand here....

I had an issue a few days ago...driving along in second gear (Standard shift) and she cuts off on me. Pulled to the side of the road and found a body ground broke. Fixed that, no issues for a couple of days. This morning, same thing except that the battery ground was loose (Clamp style post lug on it). Fixed that, she fired up. No issue.
This afternoon at lunch, Jumped in, Fired her up, put her in gear and went to take off and she dies. YES, I gave her enough gas to go....
Pushed in the clutch, turned her over and she wouldn't start.
Checked ALL grounds. No issues. Re-worked the battery ground and tried again. No start.
Noticed loose wiring on the solenoid. Re-worked those and she wouldn't even turn over. I could hear the fuel pump but the starter wouldn't even kick. Threw her in neutral, turned the key to "on", jumped post to post on the solenoid and she fired like she never had an issue...
What is my problem here? Key switch? Key switch push rod? (<--My thought) Some electronic doohickie?
Help me out fellas. My brain is toast and I aint had near enough beer....or any for that matter.

 

[96Indyram]

Bad solenoid or keyswitch that powers the solenoid is where I would start looking.

 

[GetItMuddy]

Yeah, Im thinking key switch. I can cross/jump the solenoid posts and she fires up. Ill tear the column apart this weekend and start testing stuff....if I can get her home.

 

[MoonKnight13]

Neutral safety switch also, they can go bad and cause stall issues.

 

[96Indyram]

Neutral safety switch also, they can go bad and cause stall issues.

Oh man..I forgot all about that, I bet you are right! Probably that clutch safety switch went bad or is out of position.
Good call MoonKnight!!

 

[GetItMuddy]

Man...I REALLY need to get a Chiltons.....

 

[MoonKnight13]

Autozone has them for $30.

 

[GetItMuddy]

Rock Auto has them for $15.
However, after the last few days events, that is the least of my concerns.
Gonna start a new thread here in a minute....
Gonna need help....again.

On another note, Ive named her "Dixie" and Dixie has just been labeled....Money Pit. Maybe I should name her "MP"

 

[Shoddy Cologne]

mine would do the same thing.. it wouldnt start sometimes.. i jumped it using various metal objects, a screwdriver, a pocket knife a 10mm wrench. i did that for a couple of days until i got sick of that and finally replaced the starter solenoid. no problems since. i was thankful ford put it on the fender and not on the starter like GM. i helped a buddy jump his Geo Metro once. big pain in the ass cause i couldn't really fit in the tiny damn thing haha.