Problem with truck not starting..

[71f100anddodgemagnum]

Okay after siting for 4 years i took her for a drive.....swaped a battery out and put tranny fluid in and brake fluid and some 91 oct.... checked my wires and they were wrong on my distr.... but i fixed that.... on the first swap of the battery i cranked her over just fine but had to wait for the fuel to get their considering none was in it... so the secont time i cranked her nothing.... not even a chatter or click.... battery is out of my car so i know it was 14.5 volt... so i went and bought a starter relay.. uh i think thats what it is called but the thing next to the battery thinking it went out finnaly... but put new one on and it wouldnt make a noise... then it did start... ran it till it warmed up and then when i shut it off and tried to start it back up it wouldnt... is the ignition key switch out in it... i can turn the key on and have power and then use the Sqrew driver trick and start it that way.... im lost ..... you guys have this problem befor...?? probly hard to read...sorry

[Dragon]

Bad wire to starter relay. Or bad ignition switch. Small wire would be the problem, since a screwdriver start works. We had a recall on our ignition switches shorting out and starting fires after the truck was turned off but they fail from being turned too many times too.

You have to get the right switch for your year. 69 is not a 71 for sure I have had them side by side.

Take a voltage probe the lighted kind and test the wire you shorted to at the Starter Solenoid/Relay.

[HOWDY69]

On my 1969 F250 with C6 the transmision lever had to be in just the right place to start until Ihad the C6 rebuilt. On my old 1969 dodge station wagon the wire was loose at the transmision so I used the screw drive trick on the relay. I don't know if either could apply to your case.

[iamthewreckingcrew]

I have to hold my auto column shifter up when starting also. Just worn enough that it engages the NSS.

[fordman]

wiggle the ignition switch when you do try to start it. if it starts when you wiggle it . then it is the switch that is worn.

[71f100anddodgemagnum]

This is what i was thinking it was is the Ignition switch cus the starter relay works and it was not starting befor i went and got one....and then i got a new one and it still wasnt working and i had power to everything in the truck except it wouldnt turn over or make a sound... next time i will wiggle it or replace it and see if that works... thinks alot guys...


and also this is the origonal key and ignition switch that came with the truck so i imagine its time for a new one... it wouldnt work with copy keys eather very well...

[two-bit]

If you end replacing the ignition switch pull your old before you buy a new one.
Ford used two different styles of connectors on those switches, one blade, one bullet style.
I don't remember which one they used on later or earlier trucks (I think the cut off is '70???) '67 switches are a breed of there own also.
I got burned on this once, just thought i'd share.
You can also remove the center barrel on the switch and put it in your new one so you door locks still match.
I believe Kieth has made a very comprehensive write up on how to do this in the tech section...somewhere.

Good luck with it.
Two-bit

[Dragon]

You have to remove the lock tumbler to take the switch out. Turn the switch to acc and use a paper clip to reach in the hole and unlock the cylinder. If it does not unlock wiggle the key a little bit side by side.