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An ignition switch supplies voltage to the ignition control module and/or the ignition coil. Often an ignition sytem thas two wires connected to the run terminal of the ignition switch. On is connected to the module. The other is connected to the primary resistor and coil. The start terminal of the switch is also wired to the module.
You can check for voltage using either a 12-volt test light or a digital multimeter (dmm).
To use a test light:
Turn the ignition key off and disconnect the wire connector at the module.
Disconnect the S terminal of the starter solenoid to prevent the engine from cranking when the ignition is in the run position.
Turn the key to the run position and probe the red wire connection to check for voltage.
Check for voltage at the battery terminal of the ignition coil using the test light.
Next, turn the key to the start position and check for voltage at the white wire connector at the module and the battery terminal of the ignition coil. If voltage is present, the switch and its circuit are okay.
To do the same test using a DMM:
Turn the ignition switch to the off position and back-probe, with the meter's positive lead, the power feed wire at the module.
Connect the meter's negative to a good ground at the distributor base.
Turn the ignition to the run or start position as needed, and measure the voltage.
The reading should be at least 90% of battery voltage.
If it has a voltage regulator it should get power from the key switch to the field wire on the regulator. You should have battery voltage at the big wire on the alternator with the key off. I would check for a fuseable link between the alternator and the battery first.
Sound system w/o amplifier. Not only check the fuses, check the fuse circuit for voltage, use a test lite. As you can see, one fuse is hot all the time, the other fuse goes hot with the key on. Also check ground wire, that wire color is black.
In the diagram, the brown wire is voltage for power windows. Goes hot
when you turn on the key. Voltage comes from the power window circuit
breaker. The black wires in the middle of diagram are ground. Use a
testlite to check voltage on brown wire, key on. If the brown wire has
voltage, to check the black wire for ground, use a testlite between
brown wire and black wire. If lite comes on, you have voltage and
ground.
HI. This could be as simple as a faulty wire or a bad ignition switch assembly. Use the procedure below to isolate the culprit.
1.Check for 12 volts on the large wire attached to the top terminal on the starter relay. It should have battery voltage. If not, the battery, terminals or wire is bad.
2.Check the small wire on the solenoid for power when the key is in the start position. Remove the small wire on the solenoid and have an assistant hold the key in the start position. Check the wire for battery voltage. If there is voltage, the starter is bad. If there is no voltage, replace the wire.
3.Check the fuse in the fuse box under the hood on the left fender well. If it is good, check the relay by pulling it out and checking for power at one terminal with the key off. If there is no power, the problem is in the fuse box between the fuse and the relay. If there is power, have the helper hold the key in the start position once again and check for power at another terminal from the ignition key. If there is power, the relay is bad. If there is no power, the starter circuit is suspect.
4.Check to see if there is power to the neutral safety switch if there is no power at the relay. Use the voltmeter to check for power with the key in start. If there is power going in, check for power going out. If there is no power going in, the security system or ignition switch is suspect. If there is power going in and none coming out, the switch is bad. If there is power coming out, the problem is between the neutral switch and the relay.
5 Remove the cover on the bottom of the steering column. Check the solid yellow wire for power when the key is in the start position. If there is no power, the ignition switch is bad.
HI. This could be as simple as a faulty wire or a bad ignition switch assembly. Use the procedure below to isolate the culprit.
1.Check for 12 volts on the large wire attached to the top terminal on the starter relay. It should have battery voltage. If not, the battery, terminals or wire is bad.
2.Check the small wire on the solenoid for power when the key is in the start position. Remove the small wire on the solenoid and have a helper hold the key in the start position. Check the wire for battery voltage. If there is voltage, the starter is bad. If there is no voltage, replace the wire.
3.Check the fuse in the fuse box under the hood on the left fender well. If it is good, check the relay by pulling it out and checking for power at one terminal with the key off. If there is no power, the problem is in the fuse box between the fuse and the relay. If there is power, have the helper hold the key in the start position once again and check for power at another terminal from the ignition key. If there is power, the relay is bad. If there is no power, the starter circuit is suspect.
4.Check to see if there is power to the neutral safety switch if there is no power at the relay. Use the voltmeter to check for power with the key in start. If there is power going in, check for power going out. If there is no power going in, the security system or ignition switch is suspect. If there is power going in and none coming out, the switch is bad. If there is power coming out, the problem is between the neutral switch and the relay.
5 Remove the cover on the bottom of the steering column. Check the solid yellow wire for power when the key is in the start position. If there is no power, the ignition switch is bad.
Check voltage at starter, there's a big wire and a small one, the big wire should have voltage all the time, the small one will only have voltage when key is at start, with test light check voltage at big wire, if no voltage check battery terminal's, if there is voltage then check voltage at small wire while some one hold's ignition key to start if you have voltage bad starter, also hit starter while key is at start some time's it will crank engine over, but you'll need to replace starter, if no voltage check ignition switch, good luck, hope this was very helpful.
The starter is malfunction at this time. it could also be a ignition issue as well. here is a quick starter test procedure that will help you troubleshoot a bit.
Step 1 Check for 12 volts on the large wire attached to the top terminal on the starter relay. It should have battery voltage. If not, the battery, terminals or wire is bad.
Step 2 Check the small wire on the solenoid for power when the key is in the start position. Remove the small wire on the solenoid and have a helper hold the key in the start position. Check the wire for battery voltage. If there is voltage, the starter is bad. If there is no voltage, replace the wire.
Step 3 Check the fuse in the fuse box under the hood on the left fender well. If it is good, check the relay by pulling it out and checking for power at one terminal with the key off. If there is no power, the problem is in the fuse box between the fuse and the relay. If there is power, have the helper hold the key in the start position once again and check for power at another terminal from the ignition key. If there is power, the relay is bad. If there is no power, the starter circuit is suspect.
Step 4 Check to see if there is power to the neutral safety switch if there is no power at the relay. Use the voltmeter to check for power with the key in start. If there is power going in, check for power going out. If there is no power going in, the security system or ignition switch is suspect. If there is power going in and none coming out, the switch is bad. If there is power coming out, the problem is between the neutral switch and the relay.
Step 5 Remove the cover on the bottom of the steering column. Check the solid yellow wire for power when the key is in the start position. If there is no power, the ignition switch is bad.
Check for voltage at starter, has two wire going to it, check small wire while some one turn key to on, should have voltage there with key on on if not have ignition switch check, then check voltage at big wire should have voltage all the time if not check battery terminal's, that wire come's from battery, if you have voltage on both with hammer hit starter while some one hold's key to start, if it start's replace starter.Good luck
IT is very simple to do without knowing which color is which. You do this by getting a voltmeter from Radioshack, etc.
You Need to find these 3 wires.
Ground
12+ Battery (has voltage to it without key in ign)
12+ Accessory (has voltage only when key forward or in acc position)
Once you found these, the others are speaker wires. Turn the stereo on and clip one of them and listen which speaker quits working. Reconnect the clipped wire by stripping off a little bit of insulation and then find its mate. Do this over and over to figure out which speaker wire is which.
There may be a few extra wires if you have steering wheel stereo controls but don't worry about that, just worry about finding each wire I described above and away you go.
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