Hello, I have a 1995 Ford F-150 XLT 5.8l V8 and have run into the common problem where eventually the ignition actuator switch breaks in the steering column and I can only turn the vehicle on but I cannot turn it off.

I need to fix this and really don't want to spend 10 hours or $700 at the mechanic's to replace that ignition actuator. Basically, I just want to be able to turn my engine off. This pick-up is a farm vehicle so it's only used several times a month. I've already got a kill switch on the negative pole of my battery which shuts down accessories. However, the engine still runs off the alternator and as of now, I have to pull the central ignition wire off the distributer to kill the engine. I don't want to get into the steering column ignition switch and fiddle with all the wiring there.

For all you experts out there, I was wondering if it would be possible to use the fuel inertia switch to shut off the engine? Would it be worthwhile to rig a toggle switch on the two wires to the fuel inertia switch plug as an engine shut off or am I just asking for problems doing this? Any other suggestions if possible? Thank you for all your help in lending your experience to figuring this out.

 

This is not a good solution IMO. If you cannot shut off the engine, and you use a kill switch to shut it down (by chopping power to the fuel pumps in your scenario) then the key-on power is still going to be active and will drain your battery as the truck sits.

Also, the actuator is going to get more and more slopped out to where you won't be able to start your truck anymore either, then you will have done the wiring work for nothing.

Changing the actuator is not hard. Do a search on it and you will find lots of helpful tips and such. I am sure there are multiple YouTube videos on the subject as well since this is very common problem.

 

If the linkage will push the rod in the ignition switch from the off position through the run position to the start position and back to the run position, but will not pull it back to the off position, then maybe the problem is with the ignition switch and not the actuator rod? I suggest dropping the column down so you can see the ignition switch and you should be able to watch the push rod moving in and out of the ignition switch. You may be able to adjust the position of the ignition switch to restore full function.

I found a link to a great video in a thread on this site that shows replacing the actuator rod when I needed to replace mine. It was not a horrible job and doesn't take too long. It is probably less involved and more reliable than hacking things up to jerry rig an alternate off switch.

Try this link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-easy-way.html