86 f-150 hard start when cold
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04-11-2013, 11:16 AM
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86 f-150 hard start when cold
There seems to be some inconsistency in these forums about the use of the term "ignition switch". some people use it to refer to the ignition KEY switch, but I'm talking about the switch at the bottom of the steering post. "Actuator" maybe?
When the temp gets below about 35 degrees my truck is extremely hard to start, sometimes won't start at all until things warm up. The engine turns over but sluggishly and won't start. If I put a heater on the floor with heat directed at bottom of steering post and leave it for half an hour the truck starts fine. My conclusion that the problem is the ignition/actuator switch at bottom of steering post proves out because heating it up works and replacing the switch solves the problem - for a while.
But within a year or two the same problem occurs. I am now wondering if I'm missing some information. What do you know about this? Is there a solution other than replacing the switch? I read somewhere that these switches in Ford trucks are known to be problematic. I get sick of lowering that steering post, an uncomfortable job in a cramped space for an 81-year old woman with stiff joints, and sometimes I just hook up a switched jumper wire on thingie (relay? is that right? can't remember) in engine compartment and start it that way. A Minnie Mouse way to do things.
What can you suggest? Now that I've writing this I'm wondering if just spraying WD40 on contacts in switch might solve this - but that still means lowering the steering post every year or two and I'd like to get out of that. Probably an unrealistic hope.
Later: I decided the easiest solution is just to hook up that switched jumper wire and leave it there since it's easier to open hood and start that way than to hook up the heater and wait for things to warm up and certainly easier than taking the steering post down. But I'm leaving this post because I'm interested to know what people come up with as possible solution - if there is one. If there's a PERMANENT solution then I'll go to the trouble.
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When the temp gets below about 35 degrees my truck is extremely hard to start, sometimes won't start at all until things warm up. The engine turns over but sluggishly and won't start. If I put a heater on the floor with heat directed at bottom of steering post and leave it for half an hour the truck starts fine. My conclusion that the problem is the ignition/actuator switch at bottom of steering post proves out because heating it up works and replacing the switch solves the problem - for a while.
But within a year or two the same problem occurs. I am now wondering if I'm missing some information. What do you know about this? Is there a solution other than replacing the switch? I read somewhere that these switches in Ford trucks are known to be problematic. I get sick of lowering that steering post, an uncomfortable job in a cramped space for an 81-year old woman with stiff joints, and sometimes I just hook up a switched jumper wire on thingie (relay? is that right? can't remember) in engine compartment and start it that way. A Minnie Mouse way to do things.
What can you suggest? Now that I've writing this I'm wondering if just spraying WD40 on contacts in switch might solve this - but that still means lowering the steering post every year or two and I'd like to get out of that. Probably an unrealistic hope.
Later: I decided the easiest solution is just to hook up that switched jumper wire and leave it there since it's easier to open hood and start that way than to hook up the heater and wait for things to warm up and certainly easier than taking the steering post down. But I'm leaving this post because I'm interested to know what people come up with as possible solution - if there is one. If there's a PERMANENT solution then I'll go to the trouble.
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