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ok i have a 86 bronco, wont start, i can take a screwdriver accross the solinoid with the key in the start posission she'll start so it's the switch in the sterring column. so I take a good heavy push button and some heavy wire put the button in the dash run the wire's to the (s) side, and the other side of the silonoid....nuttun...screwdriver starts it every time so why would this not work ?
But if he's jumping the solenoid and the truck is starting, doesn't it means it actually is the starter solenied the one that isn't working? (that's what i understood).
if the key is in the on poss and I use a screwdriver and jump across either the s to the starter or bat to the starter on the selonoid the truck starts if I turn the key off it will shut off or if i dont turn the key in the on poss it will crank but not start..so a cheap fix I took some 10 gage wire and a new push switch (for a sterling semi) two pole simple switch the wire is 15 feet 7 1/2 one way. with that said my wire is bigger then the wire from the key switch to the selonoid wire never gets hot but will not start the truck...the trusty screwdriver will
Replace the starter solenoid... Your switch works fine, since you can jump the solenoid and start the engine once you put it in the ON position. When the switch is in the OFF position the engine can be turned but won't start, that's totally possible (i've replicated exactly these same conditions) and it has always been the starter solenoid.
Before replacing it, try this: take it off and leave it backwards for a whole night (not installed, just put it somewhere else), mine was getting stuck and doing this apparently fixed the issue almost a year ago (but i do suspect you need to replace yours).
x3 on the Starter solenoid, by using a screwdriver you are bypassing the solenoid. You know the ignition switch works, because you state that with it turned off, it will not start, just crank, but turned on, it starts. The solenoid is the problem.
True, if the keyswitch was bad there is a far greater likelihood that it wouldn't start even with the screwdriver because the positive to the ignition coil would not work either. Solenoid X4.