Need Help Wiring Key Switch

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Sep 30, 2013 | 10:58 AM

RobertFB

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From: Alberta Canada

Need Help Wiring Key Switch

Hi Newby here, I am having problems rewiring a key switch on a 1981 Ford pick up. I bought this truck for farm use and the prev. owner removed the key switch and cut the wires, instead of just replacing tumbler. Any way it is what it is all I have left is the pig tails with a bunch of wires hanging out. Any wiring diagrams available? How do I find my off/on/start/bat/acc/wires? So I can start the truck and check it out until I can find another steering column etc. Thank you gentlemen.

Sep 30, 2013 | 08:29 PM

RobertFB

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From: Alberta Canada

Thanks for the views, anybody know if there are wiring diagrams on this site. I need to find the battery/on/off/acc wires for now. Sure would appreciate a little help.

Sep 30, 2013 | 10:09 PM

Gary Lewis

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From: Northeast, OK

I have the 81 Electrical Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM) that has the wiring schematics. I can't get to them until maybe tomorrow afternoon, but will try to scan it and post it then.

Oct 1, 2013 | 05:52 AM

dylansf23

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Lewis

I have the 81 Electrical Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM) that has the wiring schematics. I can't get to them until maybe tomorrow afternoon, but will try to scan it and post it then.

I would love that if you don't mind

Oct 1, 2013 | 06:10 AM

RobertFB

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From: Alberta Canada

Thank you very much Gary, I look forward to and appreciate any and all help I can get, wiring is a struggle for me. Thanks again.

Oct 1, 2013 | 06:46 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

2 yellow wires are power from the battery

Hot in the start position;

2 red/blue wires
purple/white wire
1 red/lightgreen wire
brown/pink wire

Hot in run position wires;

black/lightgreen
white/lightblue
another red/lightgreen
grey/yellow wire

Oct 1, 2013 | 10:32 PM

RobertFB

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From: Alberta Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklin2

Just so a dummy like me with electrical issues understands clearly, the 3 groupings battery/Hot in start/hot in run, does this mean that on a universal key switch terminals I would connect them in the listed groupings. The key switch has 4 terminals. Batt/on/start/acc. Is this what you are saying Franklin? Thanks very much for help

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Oct 2, 2013 | 07:48 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

The factory switch has many sections to it. I didn't think it would work correctly with a simple switch like you have, but people have tried it and it seems to work.

I thought you were possibly trying to put the original switch back in. If you are going to use a simple switch, just put the red/blue wires and one of the red/lightgreen wires on the start terminal.

Put the other red/lightgreen wire on the ign terminal, along with the black/lightgreen and the white/lightblue.

I am not sure how your acc position on the switch you have works. If you put the yellow wires on the bat terminal, and get voltage on the acc terminal when the switch is in acc AND in run position, then you can put the black/lightgreen wire on the acc terminal. It runs all the stuff in the truck except the ignition, but if the acc terminal on your switch does not have power in the run position, you can't use the acc terminal.