Hey all I have a 1991 F-250 7.3 idi.

My issue is sometimes i turn the key and and after the glow plug wait it starts right up. but lately I turn it a couple of times and get only a Click.

I have replaced the starter, and the ignition Solinoid and have the same results. I can spark start from the solinoid and it trys to start.

So its either the Nuetral saftey switch or the ignion switch ? just go back from lunch and it took me almost 5 min to start it at the little market.

any wisdom you guys and gals could give i would be grateful.

Peter

 

Is it manual or automatic? My 90 is starting to do this. I have to push the clutch in again and it'll turn over then. The switch is starting to wear/go out in mine

 

sorry! I missed that! Its a Automatic and I have tried shifting back and forth and tried starting in neutral with lack luster results.

 

welcome to FTE.
when you turn the key to start do you feel a slight resistance from the spring, and does it pop back to run when you let go of the key?
it sounds like either the ignition actuator is failing, or the ignition switch is failing.

 

i do feel resistance but if i let to let it spring back it is very slow like its pushing though sluge

 

try feeling along the top of the steering column about above the brake pedal. there is a thin rod that runs from the top of the column to the ignition switch which is mount about above the brake pedal. when you feel the rod into the switch feel if it is solid or loose. turn the key and feel if the switch tries to separate, and if the rod pushes all the way or stops before you get to start position.

if the rod stops, it is the ignition actuator in the top of the column. if the switch feels like it spreads open,it is a bad switch. both are issues with these old trucks.

 

I dug into the steering colum last night and found the part was still in good shape but i cleaned all the gunk out from being an old truck and put some grease on it still did it move the angle of the tilt steering wheel... and presto it now all works fine.... So I am thinking the problem is on the other end of that rod.... oh and in the process i snaped the housing for the shift indicator spring! ugh...

So new question is where does that rod go on the other end? It was pretty dark and i had it working so called it a day...

 

the rod goes down the column to the ignition switch.