ok, I have power, I put the key in the ignition, turn the key, and everything goes dead....everything. I turn the ignition back to off and stuff comes back on again.

the last time the truck did this was about four years ago and it turned out to be the engine comp......is it this again?

Unless I'm reading this wrong, you're saying everything goes dead when you turn the key to crank... Right? If that's the case, that part is normal. The ignition circuit interrupts most other circuits while the engine is cranking.

Here's what I'd check:

1. Enough juice in the battery?

2. Good connection between battery and starter? (clean posts)

3. Good ground to engine?

4. Starter Solenoid

In that order.

HTH,
Jake

teh first three are good,......haven't checked teh fourth yet.

get out the voltmeter.

check the wire on the starter relay that comes from the ignition switch (it's green, and right beside one that's brown with a white stripe) check to see of 12v is getting there when you hit the key. (should be able to hear the starter relay click) if there's no voltage or click, your ignition switch is bad (or the connection between the ignition switch and the relay). if there's voltage, and no click, the starter relay is bad. If there is voltage, and a click
then check the other green one (goes to the solenoid) and see if 12v is going to that one as well. if no voltage, relay is bad. if there is voltage. check for voltage where the relay connects to the solenoid. if no voltage, the connection is bad. if there's voltage, it's the solenoid.

just did this today only took about 5 minutes to trace it. you can take apart the starter relay and clean the contacts on it with a nail file (that's what i did, but i'm broke and unemployed right now), but it's a good idea to replace it.

maybe I am not explaining this right....

the battery has full power. you put the key in, loud ignition buzzer, ligths are bright, radio played, etc....

when I turn the ignition to the first notch (sometimes...it isn't really picky about ignition position so it can come and go at any time...) as soon as I go to turn it over, everything dies.

we're talking battery, lights, ignition, everything....it doesn't even begin to get to where it can turn over...all power on the entire vehicle just turns off suddenly. and it comes back on just as suddenly. this is not a slow fade in either direction.

does that make a little more sense?

Originally posted by mkbruin
maybe I am not explaining this right....

the battery has full power. you put the key in, loud ignition buzzer, ligths are bright, radio played, etc....

when I turn the ignition to the first notch (sometimes...it isn't really picky about ignition position so it can come and go at any time...) as soon as I go to turn it over, everything dies.

we're talking battery, lights, ignition, everything....it doesn't even begin to get to where it can turn over...all power on the entire vehicle just turns off suddenly. and it comes back on just as suddenly. this is not a slow fade in either direction.

does that make a little more sense?

Sounds like it could be your ignition switch...

this fawking.......:mad3: :nuke:

so I go out late last night and the damn thing fires up like it's coming off the dealer lot. Damn I am pissed!!!!!

would the ignition switch suddenly kill power to the entire car though?

Yeah. My money's on the ignition switch.

Good luck,
Jake

Originally posted by Jakesteramalamajama
Yeah. My money's on the ignition switch.

Good luck,
Jake


Thats what it is. Replace the ignition switch. It is at the base of the steering column.


I am putting Jakes money on the ignition switch too! :flipoff2:

Originally posted by The Rockslut

I am putting Jakes money on the ignition switch too! :flipoff2:

Hey, there's not that much to go around... :flipoff2: