Ive got an 89 e350 club wagon with a 5.8. Went to change the thermostat, and the bolt broke off in the block. Its ok. Its out, and the thermostat housing is back together thanks to a helix coil.

A welder friend helped get that fiasco taken care of, but in the process melted the ignition module and removed the distributor without making marks. The spark wires were labeled but with sharpie, and when handled, erased. But thats all fixed. For the most part.

After replacing the rotor and ignition module on the distributor, got it in and couldn't get the timing down. It would get goog and close, even "running" as long as the fuel line was wide open. Tapping the gas wouldn't get it past cranking.

After a while of trial and error, turning the key in the ignition did nothing. Crossing the terminals on the solinoid got a reaction from the starter but nothing still from the key ignition.

So to this day (3/7/17 started 1/16/17) the dang ol van still wont turn over. I replaced the fuel filter (pretty nasty and dark), hoping it wasnt enough fuel being supplied. All i can think is ignition switch.

The nice/bad part is i live in the thing so im always there to work on it but have to walk to get parts and tools.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Do you have a duraspark ignition or it it a TFI ignition? Automatic or manual transmission?

 

TFI and automatic. There's an ignition switch on top of the steering colom i was gunna look at. Started taking the casing off ad it looks like a ground wire snapped. Hopefully resplicing the wire helps.

 

This drawing is for my 1985 is slightly different from my 1988 e150 which I have a manual for. The starting system wiring appears to be the same except for the wire colors coming from the switch itself to the neutral safety switch. After the neutral safety switch the colors are the same. I would think that your 1989 would be the same basic wiring for the starting system.

The first circuit to the left that comes off of the bottom of the switch diagram #32 is marked Red/w-blue stripe. On my 1988 diagram the color of the wire leaving the switch is W/PK. That would be White with a Pink stripe leaving the switch.

C147 is the plug/connector from the ignition switch to the neutral safety switch. After that connector, the colors and wiring diagrams are the same with the wires being Red/Blue stripe all the way to the starter relay.

If you have a helper to turn the switch to the start position, I would start fro the starter relay and see if you are getting power there. If not, check the neutral safety switch. If no power there then check at the switch itself. It could also be a bad connection in one of the connectors.

Or you could work your way from the switch out...