Ok, I've got a 1989 F-150 4x4 that I got for $300 with a blown motor. It runs and all though, check engine light doesnt even come on (other than before its started), just major rod knock, no oil pressure, and hard starting. Tomorrow I'm going to fill the tranny with fluid and make sure the trans works with a short drive, and if it does, I will probably keep and fix the truck. BUT I seem to have run into some electrical issues... The wipers and washer pump work fine when the key is in the accessory possition (all the way back). They work INTERMITENTLY with the ignition on. With it on all the idiot lights and guages power up, lights work... but not the wipers... I know it needs a new wiper motor but I'm pretty sure that the sluggish motor has nothing to do with this issue... It seems that fidiling with the ignition switch (back and forth a tiny bit) will get them to work or not work. Could the ignition switch really cause that? When the everything else does not suffer from that?*

If it matters at all the fuel tank selector and fuel guage don't work... the fuel gauge is always WAY passed full, and more so when the ignition is on. As far as I can tell this is because there is only ONE connector in the fuse panel for this circuit - so the other wire must have gotten pushed out... have not taken fuse panel off yet to check.

Ideas?

*The Anti-lock brake light will go on and then switch off when I turn the key on. If I then move the key slightly back and then foward again it - and that light only - resets and comes back on, then cycles off.

 

Sounds like that truck needs a whole new harness run. Its a mess.

I have seen ignition switches do weird things. I dont know how to test it but if you have one lying around (which id assume not) id hook it up and check it out. Other than that... No ideas.