turn the key and it engages but wont start turn the key off and the starter stays engaged until you disconnect the battery? where should i look?

 

You may want to check the starter solenoid. Sounds like it may be sticking.

 

The starter solenoid, if yours is like mine, should be the black cilindric element on the side of the engine bay, near the battery, the battery (+) should be linked to it. Just replace it.

 

i just put a new soleonoid on it last night because it wouldn't start and i just put a brand new starter on it last week? is it possible the soleonoid is hooked up wrong. i knew a guy who had the same problem with a chevy and it was a connection under the dash that was loss any advice there?

 

If neither of those is the cause i would go for the switch itself, if it's in fact the switch you should replace it ASAP, as a stuck switch might lead to fires. If i'm recalling right, some of those switches were on a recall, you should check that out.

But i would double check both the starter and the solenoid, there is an easy way to check them, when it gets stuck again, hit the solenoid first, if it releases then it's the cause, if it doesn't, get under the truck and hit the starter to see if it releases (you can use a pipe on both, but try not to overdoit).

 

I would say ya got it wired wrong. Go open the hood on one near by that works and see what ya did wrong.

 

If solenoid is wired correctly, then it is most likely key switch. My 1984 bronco did that. Changed out switch, all good now.