ghost in the ignition
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ghost in the ignition
My 2001 F350 (7.3L) has started randomly trying to start with no key in ignition switch. The radio, heater motor, etc will work like the key is on when there is no key in the ignition switch. My wife had told me about a random "beeping" (like key in switch and door open or lights on and door open) months ago but I had never been able to duplicate the problem. Is this likely an ignition switch or body control module? How tough are they to change?
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haven't changed an ignition switch in that year truck but its probably about the same, drop the bottom off the steering wheel trim, press in on a little keyway and the switch will slide out. sounds kind of like some wire's touching somewhere, not sure that the switch could cause that but its a good starting point. for my sisters truck ign switch was $25. she broke the key off in it, still starts runs, 6 months later I'm working on the aftermarket radio and switch it to acc, entire switch stops spinning and now "I broke it."
youtube the process first or wait for someone else to chime in but I don't think ford changed it much between 1985ish to 2008ish. one of those if it works it works. just make sure there isn't a step like make sure your battery is disconnected and turn the key to on or something like that. for her 94 it was a 20-30minute job.
youtube the process first or wait for someone else to chime in but I don't think ford changed it much between 1985ish to 2008ish. one of those if it works it works. just make sure there isn't a step like make sure your battery is disconnected and turn the key to on or something like that. for her 94 it was a 20-30minute job.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
my thoughts too.
welcome to FTE.
my 02 will do the same thing sometimes. it is cause by a faulty remote start module.
welcome to FTE.
my 02 will do the same thing sometimes. it is cause by a faulty remote start module.
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OK, here's an update to what's going on: Before I posted the original question, I thought I'd address any low voltage issues (that can cause crazy symptoms) and pulled cables off battery terminals to clean and load test the batteries. Everything was good. Still acted like the key was on and every 10- 20 minutes, the starter would crank for about 2 seconds.
The truck still starts and runs fine and I needed to haul a trailer a couple hours away. The whole trip, everything worked fine except the radio. It would display time, show the station and volume level and scan for stations, just not play through the speakers. When I stopped for fuel and put it in park, the speakers came on. After fueling, I put it in Drive and the speakers turned off!
I'm back from that trip and the truck is acting perfectly normal now but I know the problem will show itself again so I'm happy to get any ideas from you guys.
The truck does not have remote start and, yes FORDMAN67 we had a frog strangler here. I asked my wife and she was sure that each time she had heard the "beeping", it was raining.
The truck still starts and runs fine and I needed to haul a trailer a couple hours away. The whole trip, everything worked fine except the radio. It would display time, show the station and volume level and scan for stations, just not play through the speakers. When I stopped for fuel and put it in park, the speakers came on. After fueling, I put it in Drive and the speakers turned off!
I'm back from that trip and the truck is acting perfectly normal now but I know the problem will show itself again so I'm happy to get any ideas from you guys.
The truck does not have remote start and, yes FORDMAN67 we had a frog strangler here. I asked my wife and she was sure that each time she had heard the "beeping", it was raining.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
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From: San Diego, CA
In addition to pulling, checking, and re-installing the ignition switch key barrel as 96f250extcab said, I would check the connection on the GEM module behind the fuse panel (under and to the left of the steering column).
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: North Carolina-Foothills
Welcome to the forum Jeff 
Between this forum and the NC Chapter forum here on FTE you can find a lot good people that are willing to lend their knowledge and even sometime s a helping hand. Good luck.
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haven't changed an ignition switch in that year truck but its probably about the same, drop the bottom off the steering wheel trim, press in on a little keyway and the switch will slide out. sounds kind of like some wire's touching somewhere, not sure that the switch could cause that but its a good starting point. for my sisters truck ign switch was $25. she broke the key off in it, still starts runs, 6 months later I'm working on the aftermarket radio and switch it to acc, entire switch stops spinning and now "I broke it."
youtube the process first or wait for someone else to chime in but I don't think ford changed it much between 1985ish to 2008ish. one of those if it works it works. just make sure there isn't a step like make sure your battery is disconnected and turn the key to on or something like that. for her 94 it was a 20-30minute job.
youtube the process first or wait for someone else to chime in but I don't think ford changed it much between 1985ish to 2008ish. one of those if it works it works. just make sure there isn't a step like make sure your battery is disconnected and turn the key to on or something like that. for her 94 it was a 20-30minute job.
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Joined: Mar 2021
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Mine is doing the same thing
OK, here's an update to what's going on: Before I posted the original question, I thought I'd address any low voltage issues (that can cause crazy symptoms) and pulled cables off battery terminals to clean and load test the batteries. Everything was good. Still acted like the key was on and every 10- 20 minutes, the starter would crank for about 2 seconds.
The truck still starts and runs fine and I needed to haul a trailer a couple hours away. The whole trip, everything worked fine except the radio. It would display time, show the station and volume level and scan for stations, just not play through the speakers. When I stopped for fuel and put it in park, the speakers came on. After fueling, I put it in Drive and the speakers turned off!
I'm back from that trip and the truck is acting perfectly normal now but I know the problem will show itself again so I'm happy to get any ideas from you guys.
The truck does not have remote start and, yes FORDMAN67 we had a frog strangler here. I asked my wife and she was sure that each time she had heard the "beeping", it was raining.
The truck still starts and runs fine and I needed to haul a trailer a couple hours away. The whole trip, everything worked fine except the radio. It would display time, show the station and volume level and scan for stations, just not play through the speakers. When I stopped for fuel and put it in park, the speakers came on. After fueling, I put it in Drive and the speakers turned off!
I'm back from that trip and the truck is acting perfectly normal now but I know the problem will show itself again so I'm happy to get any ideas from you guys.
The truck does not have remote start and, yes FORDMAN67 we had a frog strangler here. I asked my wife and she was sure that each time she had heard the "beeping", it was raining.
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