Hello, and thanks for letting me post to these forums.. I have gotten many answers I have needed through this place.

I'm having trouble with my 1989 F150 4x4 5.0 and I can't find the answer.

The issue seems to be that when I turn the key over I get no power to my dash. The fuel pump doesn't engage, the battery doesn't show a charge, nor do I get any noise or lighting.

I went to go hop in my truck this morning and head out for work..but I didn't get anywhere. I've been having ignition key problems, so every now and then I would bypass the solenoid to turn the truck on. Went to turn key, got nothing, popped the hood to bypass, and got nothing. So I thought, huh my battery must be low or something like that. I go and bring my car up to the truck, charge her up and go to turn over, get nothing. Now at this point I was getting frustrated..2 weeks ago I had to replace the ICM on the distributor.

So anyways, I pulled out the meter and got good readings from the battery, but wasn't getting good readings from the solenoid. So I took my battery and solenoid to the auto store to double check everything and the battery checked out fine, and got a replacement solenoid. Went home, put new cables on battery, hooked up solenoid and got everything nice and right. Hop in truck to turn over, got nothing. no power no anything. At this point I think I wasn't getting any power to begin with.

So this time I go to bypass the solenoid with my screwdriver and there is plenty of juice in there unlike this morning. She turns over fine, but soon as I loose the connection she dies instantly.

I was thinking it would turn on properly if I had power to the dash in order to engage the fuel pump? the fuel pump was tested about 2 weeks ago and had great pressure as well. I just don't understand what would cause me to loose power when I turn the key over. I know the rod is going up hence turning on from solenoid but I don't see why I wouldn't get power by turning the key over.

Any comments or help? would be much appreciated. Had to push work back for today, would hate to have to push it back an additional day.

Thanks.

 

I'd check the fusible links attached to the 'hot' side of the solenoid first.
If they're okay, look at the harness plug to the ignition switch down at the bottom of the column.

What power do you have?
Have you probed all the fuses in the panel?

 

Thanks, I ended up renting a truck for the day, didn't have the time to sit and play with it, definitely need to do some more research on this type of problem. I'm not real fond with electrical problems on a vehicle..I'm going to check on what you said in the morning. I know the solenoid and battery are holding a 12.7v either way I test them. pulled all fuses out of panel, had a 30amp blown and replaced..not sure what caused that. I'm guessing somewhere up the electrical line is all I know. It was the EFI 30amp fuse, & a bunch of other things with it.

Thanks for the response, I'll head out there first thing tomorrow morning and probe around and see if I can find anything faulty.

 

but yes, when I turn the key over I have 0 power. No gauges move and I get no lights for brakes, check engine, etc. also don't have power to headlights as well.

 

Brake lights are one of those things that should have power even with the key out.

You need to determine why you don't have power getting from the solenoid into the cab.

All those wires with the little rubber flags on the end should be attached to the same stud as the positive battery cable.
If any of them look blistered they may have done their job and prevented your harness from melting or catching on fire.