Well last week I lost all power completely after I came out of a car wash, 85 f150 302 V8. When I power pulled over to the side popped the hood and saw my wires going from alternator to solenoid were burnt up. Got a tow home. replaced alternators and all the wires that were burned up. Still when I turn my key I have no power at all nothing happens. So this leads me to believe it's an ignition problem. I've asked several other people already and they agree.

So I want to start off by replacing the ignition switch. Thing is I cannot locate it. Could anyone possibly help me locate my ignition switch? If you think something else might be causing this please leave a reply as well! I am open to ideas. I hate taking my truck to a mechanic. So far I've repaired/replaced everything needed on my vehicle on my own.

 

The ignition switch is located near the bottom of the steering column, but it probably isn't the problem. Check the battery cables, both ends, and all fusible links. Most fusible links are located on the starter solenoid but there is one near the firewall on the drivers side. Also check all fuses.

 

This has all been done already, all the fusible links have been replaced and are brand new. Battery cables are grade A and I have a new battery as well. All fuses are good and in working order.

Thanks for telling me the location of the ignition switch. Next will be ignition coil. Have any other ideas what it might be as I progress through this repair? Also, what leads me to believe it has something to do with ignition is that I've had problem with it already. Without any keys at all I could turn the key switch. Put it in any position I want. Kept getting stuck a lot to even when I used keys. which I always did after I figured out I could start it up without keys on accident.

 

Not all fusible links are easily found. Did you find the other one on the firewall? Power goes through the ignition switch and then through that link to supply power to the coil. I would test for power in and out of the switch before buying anything. Have you tried hotwiring the engine? You can eliminate a few things if it will run when hotwired.

 

I tested for power through all wires with my electric meter. (Me and my friend replaced all fusible links when I first got this vehicle.) All were good. My buddy told me I could start it somehow without hotwiring through the side of the block or near it but still haven't found it. Is this what you're talking about? Would really like to see if it fires that way but dunno how to manually start it up under the hood.

 

First point is the key, understand the key switch will turn with or without the key. OK, turn it untill the instruments turn on or the alt lite is on, now go to the starter relay on the fender well near the battery. Remove the red/blue stripe wire, using a screwdrive short circut the relay from the large terminal to the where the red/blue stripe wire was. This will crank the engine over and should fire up if the fuseable links (Sean mentioned) are good.

 

I must have missed this last post. If you want to hotwire it run a wire from the battery positive to the coil positive. Turn on the key and jump the starter solenoid to crank it over.

 

I got to frustrated messing with it. My friend is towing it over to his shop. He is going to take a look at it for me and help me fix it. I'll let everyone know what it turns out to be.