I'm having a bit of a problem with it still. So, my ignition stopped working and I replaced the battery, the starter, and the starter solenoid and I still can't start my truck with the ignition. I have to put the key in and turn it on, pop the hood, and touch the two bolts on the solenoid together with a screwdriver to start it. It's getting annoying and I want to fix it. I changed out the ignition lock cylinder and that just have me a new key and I still can't start it. I've replaced an ignition switch before in an older truck, but when I went to buy the ignition switch to replace it, it just didn't look right and I have no idea what to do.

So, could anyone tell me what piece to buy to fix this and how to change it? And I don't want to put in a push button start. If anybody can help, that would be awesome.

 

This is on a 1988 Ford F150 by the way. Sorry I left that out.

 

Could be the little rod that connects to the ignition switch. I'm not sure how to replace it but I had the same problem on my 90.

 

Damn. If anybody could possibly provide some pictures and some help with this it would be awesome. I'm really trying to avoid taking it to a electrician and having them figure it out.

 

If you can get our hand up under the dash on the ignition switch, reach up in there and have someone turn the key so you can feel whether that rod is moving or not. If it is then you should check the wires with a test light to see if power is actually being sent to the solenoid.

If power is not being sent from the switch, replace the switch.

If power is being sent from the switch, but not getting to the solenoid then you will have to start tracing the wire to find out where the connection breaks.

 

There's a cover that unscrews to get to that rod, undo two screws and pull the cover off, turn the key to start and push down and forward on that little rod. If that's what's wrong it should try to start. Atleast that's what happened on my truck, I kept the cover off and just push the rod to start it now.

 

ive had this happen on my 91. Turned out to be the ignition switch. Cheap, and takes all of 2 mins to change out. How did the new one not look right? Also, on my truck the switch worked for awhile, but then stopped, turned out to be the steering column was screwed

 

Nvm just read that its a 88 sorry lol.

 

The only rod I'm finding when I take the little piece off of the steering column is a long rod that runs all the way through to the firewall. When I turn my key to try and start a popping sound comes from where the solenoid is and it just won't start.