good morning gentlemen.

Vehicle:
2000 ford F150 lariat
triton V8

3 times in the last month and a half, i have gotten into the truck and had no power. I get out, wipe off any corrosion on the NEG terminal, muscle it to move just a skoash (I'ts very tight), get back in the truck and i have power and it starts but the gauges all peg to max for just a second during crank and start. no problems after that.

This morning, I get in to go to work. I have power. When I insert the key I get the bell. When I turn the key, the dome light goes out, the bell stops and I get one or two of the idiot lights very dimly lit. Turn the key off, everything goes back to normal power. Did this 4 times and putting key in, taking it out, etc.

Finally, I tried turning the key extra slow and it turned right over. Normal operation after that.

#1 I suspected that I was getting an issue with the ignition switch but I need to understand why in the beginning, messing with the battery terminal, I was able to restore the power. Or do I have two separate problems here?

#2 will the internal components in the switch cause the short I experienced this morning or might it be something in the column beyond the switch?

 

Question,

Is it the ignition switch connector (part# WPT-577)that makes mechanical contact when you turn the key?
If I don;t replace the lock tumbler assembly then I don't have to get the key programed?

 

You need to go though all your grounds and cable connections first. That has to be done and done thoroughly. Yea there comes a point when this needs to be done, can't get away from it. Otherwise, the truck will become possessed with a mind of it's own and they do some very strange things. None of those are good for it. Plus you'll be losing your hair at an exponential rate.

 

it was the cables...
old battery connectors that were corroded more seriously than I realized.
Had to trim the ground wire to the terminal because of corrosion that had infiltrated under the sheath about an inch and a half.
Both terminal connectors had to be replaced.
Everything works as it should now.
even seems to idle a little smoother.
Thanks for the reply JBREW i do appreciate it.

 

No problem. Yea those cables can get pretty tricky as well. I had a pin hole in the insulation once that caused the cable to corrode on the inside. Couldn't see it, - found it eventually.

Glad you found the problem.