Joined: Sat Mar 29 2008, 03:36PM
Location: North eastern Wis.
Posts: 1638
About three years ago the start function in the key switch failed. I substituted a push button in the dash, running directly to the starter solenoid . Worked great for awhile, then recently the run function quit on me. This truck is a rusty old beater so a new switch in the column or a new column is not what I have in mind... I am planning another switch in the dash. A 3 prong switch with hot going in the center lug and coming out one or the other lug to the ballast in order to simply bypass the key switch in the column. So to start the truck I put the toggle switch in start, push the start button and then flip it to run once running. The question I have is... Witch lug on the ballast resister do I connect the "start" wire? Witch lug for the" run" position?
Joined: Fri Mar 13 2009, 11:21AM
Location: San Marcos, CA
Posts: 713
One side of the ballast resistor gets 12 volts when the ignition is on, the other side has one lead that goes to the coil (8ish volts) and the other lead (5ish volts) going to the 5th wire on the ignition box (if it has 5 contacts). You should feed the coil full 12 volts while the engine is cranking. be sure to separate the wires so the ignition power doesn't keep the starter running. My $.02
Joined: Sat Mar 29 2008, 03:36PM
Location: North eastern Wis.
Posts: 1638
Yeah Thanx, I get how it works. It's been starting and running with the key in run for several years... Now the key doesn't work. Just wondering witch post gets the hot wire for run and witch is for start. Maybe I can get a volt meter and see what value each side of the ballast has. I'll get back when I get it figgered out.
Joined: Fri Mar 13 2009, 11:21AM
Location: San Marcos, CA
Posts: 713
If you have the original ignition box, it needs the second ballast resistor, if it has been replaced by a newer module with only 4 contacts, the second half of the ballast resistor is not used. Grab the voltage meter and check it out. If the second side of the ballast resistor fails (common failure) the truck won't run if you still have the 5 contact module.
Joined: Sat Mar 29 2008, 03:36PM
Location: North eastern Wis.
Posts: 1638
Thanks again, the truck is running fine now. It was the two heavily insulated wires, as suggested. My truck has red wires instead of blue. I am now going to add a fuse-able link.