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My '90 F250 has started having an intermittent delay in cranking when the ignitio switch is turned to "Start". At first, nothing happens, then finally it will crank and start.
The condition seems to be worsening. It can be made to crank by bridging from battery positive to the terminal on the starter relay that the wire from the ignition switch attaches to.
Today, I noticed that when I turn the ignitionswitch to start, the Engine Temperature gauge goes to cold and then steadily climbs all the way to the red mark. When it reaches the red mark, the starter begins to crank.
Is this indicative of a short, a bad ground, or ??? It works to start the truck, but I don't feel good about it.
Check the adjustment of your ignition switch located on top of the steering column. They can cracked and loosen the connections or work loose out of adjustment. If you take the plastic cover with two screws off of the column, there is a rod that runs on top of the column from your key switch to the ignition switch. Take a pair of pliers and push this rod forward, if you can make it start properly then the switch is out of adjustment. If not, it may need a new switch.
<p>first thing i would do is check all battery connections, and all ground connections for clean and tight.</p><p>also check cables where they meet the battery connectors for cracked jacket. if the jacket is cracked, the cable inside gets severely corroded and will cause a very high resistance in the cable which will give the symptoms of a bad connection.</p><p>if all that checks out good, then i would check the ignition switch to see if it is separated, then check the clutch interrupter switch and firewall for cracks if it is a manual trans, or neutral safety switch if auto trans.</p>