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1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

ignition (switch?) problem????

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Old May 12, 2004 | 03:39 AM
  #1  
ahawes's Avatar
ahawes
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From: Tucson, AZ
Angry ignition (switch?) problem????

ok well here it is. tonight i drove about 8 miles to my friends house, about an eighth mile down his bumpy *** driveway, a couple hrs later go back down the bumpy *** driveway (truck started fine) to my girlfriends house. im there for a few hrs, go to leave and my truck wont run unless the switch is in the start position. so i undo the cable from the starter push start the truck, holding the switch into the start position and haul *** 8 miles back home.... now im thinking my solenoid is porbably going to be fried by the time i get home, or at least some wiring somehwere.... i get home, pop the hood, sloenoid is nice and cool and all wires everywhere on the truck are cool to the touch..... what could be causing this problem? the truck is a 59 f-100 if that matters
adam
 
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Old May 12, 2004 | 03:56 AM
  #2  
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angus
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From: Vancouver Island
Ballast resistor! That fits the symptons. It's the ceramic rectangle (usually) on the firewall or near the coil. Could be the resistor is open circuit, or just a bad connection or busted wire in the circuit.
The starter solenoid has an extra contact that bypasses the resistor to apply full battery voltage to the coil (to make up for the lower battery voltage during starting). That's the extra small wire running from the solenoid to the coil.
 

Last edited by angus; May 12, 2004 at 04:02 AM.
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Old May 12, 2004 | 10:44 AM
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Jag Red 54
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I'll vote that the solenoid is bad or the wire to the run side is loose. Is there juice to the run side with the key in the run position? Just threw that in in case it is not the ballast resister.
 
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Old May 13, 2004 | 11:50 AM
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Jag Red 54
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Well, did you ever find the problem? Future readers will want to know what your solution was. John
 
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Old May 14, 2004 | 01:53 AM
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ahawes
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havent gotten around to workin on the rtuck yet. ive just been riding my streetbike every day. im going to replace the ballast resistor this weekend. i'll be sure to let you all know what was happening as soon as i fix it. thanks for the info guys
adam
 
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Old May 14, 2004 | 07:36 AM
  #6  
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Clean,Check, dielectric grease every ground conn too while you are digging.
 
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Old May 18, 2004 | 02:55 AM
  #7  
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ahawes
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it was the ballast resistor... finally got around to fixing it today. simple fix. replaced it with an MSD unit and its working perfectly once again. thanks for the help guys
adam
 
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Old May 18, 2004 | 08:18 AM
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packrat56
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From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
I want to go ahead and replace my ballast resistor, looks like its been there a very long time and I drive this vehicle every day. Are all 12 volt ballast resistors the same? Are they specific to the vehicle? Better brands? 56 with a 302.
 

Last edited by packrat56; May 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM. Reason: Forgot ebgibe suze
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Old May 18, 2004 | 05:02 PM
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ahawes
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i beleive they are pretty much all the same thing. theyre cheap too. i got my MSD unit in a package with a blaster 2 coil so im not sure how much the resistor itself runs
adam
 
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