Basic Inertia switch question

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Feb 19, 2015 | 10:40 AM

VannerDude

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Mountain Pass

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From: Bay Area

Basic Inertia switch question

When reading about fuel delivery issues most sites will advise checking the inertia switch.

Can an Inertia switch cause a problem if the vehicle has not been moved? MY guess is no. Am I right, generally?

Feb 19, 2015 | 11:12 AM

gman97005

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From: In my house..

Quote:

Originally Posted by VannerDude

Not usually, a simple way to check the inertia switch is to try and depress the button, if it's already depressed and won't reset then you can proceed directly to the fuel pump, which is mounted inside the fuel tank..

Feb 19, 2015 | 12:44 PM

VannerDude

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Mountain Pass

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From: Bay Area

Thanks gman for the reply. I pretty much did just that and found no difference between both vans I work on. But I was curious.

Feb 19, 2015 | 12:55 PM

gman97005

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From: In my house..

Quote:

Originally Posted by VannerDude

Thanks gman for the reply. I pretty much did just that and found no difference between both vans I work on. But I was curious.

If the inertia switch was triggered you would feel and hear distinctive "click" as it reset..

Feb 19, 2015 | 04:52 PM

jimandnena

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VannerDude

Right, unless the vehicle was parked somewhere and got bumped by another vehicle. A friend got "tapped" apparently by someone trying to park behind him and it tripped the switch. He called me and we listened for the pump with key on. Nada. I pushed the button in the trunk, it clicked, and he was off.

Here's a good write-up on the switch:
Ford Ranger/Bronco II Inertia Switch
jim