ok i am new to vehicles with a free standing starter solenoid, as in my newly purchased 89 f250. i have not picked up the truck yet so this is what i was told. you turn the key to fire it and get nothing, but you can jump the solenoid with a screwdriver and it pops right off. my thinking is the solenoid is bad, but others pass all kinds of theories as in ignition switch., lock tumblers? hey i'm just relaying what was told to me. i'm guessing when i pick it up if i show up with a solenoid and hook it up i'll be driving away with my new rig. anyone with experience in this matter. thank you in advance. Dan

 

ask Barbie. she knows how to do it.

it could be the solenoid, or it could be the ignition switch, or it could be the ignition actuator cam. when you go get it, if the solenoid don't do the trick, let us know, and we will get you on the road to doing a proper diagnosis and fix.

 

Same thing happened to my truck I have an 89 F250HD w/ the 460 in it but if you look into the recalls on it there is one on the ign switch so ford will still replace it otherwise its an easy job.... but im just replacing the switch an the actuator cam myself after I finally figured it out from ppl on this site thanks to yall especially "Transport" Let us know how it goes!!!!

 

alright transport and stm250, i stopped and looked everything over on my way home. the solenoid in the truck is new. the battery terminals were severely corroded. otherwise everything else looks good. do you mind walking me through the next steps.? thanks, Dan

 

get a test light. put the clip on the negative side of the battery. touch the tip to the small wire of the solenoid. have someone turn the key to start the truck. if you get power to the test light, change the solenoid.
if you do not get power to the test light, go inside the truck. mounted to the top of the steering column, in the area of the brake and gas pedals, is the ignition switch. it is held on by 2 bolts, i think it is a 7/16 wrench to remove them.
take the switch off of the column, and stick a small screwdriver in the switch and try to start by sliding the inside part of the switch. it is spring loaded, so when you get to start, you will have to use some effort.
if it starts, the ignition actuator cam in the upper column is bad.
if it don't start, it is either the ignition switch or neutral safety switch that is bad. .

 

tjc, thanks i printed that out and will go try it this weekend. my wife is gonna kill me for buying this truck but if i get it running the beating will not hurt as much. i appreciate your time, i'll let you know how she runs. by the way if i get to the actuator cam or ignition switch, is it possible to just wire in a push button. evidently the ignition switch still powers up everything else. i've always been intimidated by steering columns. thanks again. Dan ps barbie says hello!

 

yes you can do a push button, but the info to install that is gonna cost you big time.

 

thanks, my wife is so going to kill me.

 

LMAO Oh my yea those damn push buttons can be a pain!

 

make sure the solenoid is grounded

 

you can install the push button like I was going to do but my ign actuator cam being broke also blocked out my shifter so I could not get er out of gear so I finally replaced the cam an also the ign switch because I found out that was bad also.... Just do all the tests to narrow it down, it can be really annoying but at least you can figure it out alot faster... Let us know

 

Take Barbie & drill a mounting hole in tummy...

Install momentary push button switch...

Mount on dash, run wire out soles of feet, then whenever you want to start truck...

 

thanks everyone, i am going to try and jump the solenoid tsaturday to bring it home and then take my time to follow the directions and gix her. thanks alot fellas, i am sure you have not heard the end of me on this topic. Dan

 

okay i went down today with big plans of getting her to fire and drive home. we were well equiped but not quite well enough. tires are all aired up solenoid reinstalled on the fender(some peoples idea of repairing stuff) the solenoid is good, and we got it to turn over like a champ, but unfortuneatly engines like spark! go figure. so tommorrow we are going to drag her onto the trailer and haul her home. i bought a 90.00 ignition module and a manual. I decided since the manual has a very solid electronics diagnostic that maybe i will hold onto the module for a few days.no sense blowing 90 if i dont have to. i am assuming that after i get that part done i still have an ignition switch, column problem. again like i said some peoples idea of fixing stuff, it is just mind blowing. but what do you say for someone who replaces load range e tires with b's. i thought i was the second owner, turns out the farmer let his nephew have it for a few months, hence the cool mags and P.O.S. mickey thompson tires. he gave it back when he couldn't get it to run and a solenoid didnt fix it. oh well still a great $300 truck, and with a little work an excellent 3 bill truck. thanks guys , i'll come a callin when i get her runnin, or run out of ideas. Dan