88- s-10 2.8l V6 won't start - ignition switch?

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dayve@s2spowersports.com - 25 May 2007 22:39 GMT

So I picked up a cheap vehicle off craigslist - well, because that's
all I could afford. First, it was not starting intermittedly. Now it
won't start at all.

When the problem was still once in a while - I took it into an auto-
shop to test the starting system. $72. and they told me my problem was
due to my ignition switch. I suppose that's the easy answer, but hey,
I should trust that they tested the starter, alternator, etc. See, the
previous owner busted the ignition and now it starts with a
screwdriver.

So I figured I'd take the key switch out of the equasion. Install a
push button start. Any body have any idea which wires I should jump
up under the steering column? The idea is to test the idea before I
destroy my steering column.

I have this cool super-power where I can just completely break
anything, and my car isn't immune. Any safe ideas out there?

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azwiley1 - 26 May 2007 06:28 GMT

On May 25, 2:39 pm, d...@s2spowersports.com wrote:

> So I picked up a cheap vehicle off craigslist - well, because that's
> all I could afford. First, it was not starting intermittedly. Now it
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> I have this cool super-power where I can just completely break
> anything, and my car isn't immune. Any safe ideas out there?

Guy, though it is your vehicle and you are truly free to do what you
would like with it, I personally would recommend that you do not do
what you are thinking, sticktly from a safety stand point.

First if you know for fact that you do not have a bad starter or a bad
solenoid and that it IS you ignition switch, I would just replace
that. Second, if you look at cars that have a push button starting
system (Mercedes and BMW come to mind) you MUST still have a "key"
because it has a transponder chip in it, to prevent the "wrong" people
from starting it. Thirdly, you did not say if it were manual or
automatic, which creates issue all in itself. If it is a manual, you
have a clutch/neutral safety switch that you MUST bypass and in some
states this is illegal.

Personally, I can tell you exactly how you would wire this, but in
good concience have some serious reservations, due to your safety and
that of others. (What would happen if some kid got in there, pushed a
button while in 1st gear?) I've seen something similar, NOT good))

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Old Crow - 26 May 2007 10:35 GMT

>On May 25, 2:39 pm, d...@s2spowersports.com wrote:
>> So I picked up a cheap vehicle off craigslist - well, because that's
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>have a clutch/neutral safety switch that you MUST bypass and in some
>states this is illegal.

What do they do about my 2 Jeeps and my old Ford p/u that all crank
wether you have the clutch pressed in or not...from the factory?
If you wired the pushbutton into the starter crank circuit at the
ignition switch itself, then any park/neutral switchs would still be
operational anyway. All you would be bypassing would be the actual
ignition switch.

>Personally, I can tell you exactly how you would wire this, but in
>good concience have some serious reservations, due to your safety and
>that of others. (What would happen if some kid got in there, pushed a
>button while in 1st gear?) I've seen something similar, NOT good))

If the steering column is already jacked up(need to use a screw driver
to start it)then I'd say the linkage from the lock cylinder to the
switch might be the problem. I'd pull the switch off the bottom of
the column and operate it without the pushrod to see if it's the
actual switch or just the linkage thats causing the problem.
--
Old Crow "Yol Bolsun!"
'82 FLTC-P "Miss Pearl"
'95 YJ Rio Grande
BS#133, SENS, TOMKAT, MAMBM

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azwiley1 - 26 May 2007 20:29 GMT

> >On May 25, 2:39 pm, d...@s2spowersports.com wrote:
> >> So I picked up a cheap vehicle off craigslist - well, because that's
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> operational anyway. All you would be bypassing would be the actual
> ignition switch.

You are comparing apples to oranges here. Yours came that way from
the factory, the OP is talking about doing a modification to his,
making it something that is not factory.
The OP is free to do what ever he would like, I was just throwing some
cautions out there. If it were me, I would check my local laws to
find out if this modification would cause him problems, such as with
vehicle inspections, etc. if he lives in an area that requires them.

> >Personally, I can tell you exactly how you would wire this, but in
> >good concience have some serious reservations, due to your safety and
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

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Old Crow - 27 May 2007 10:37 GMT

>> >On May 25, 2:39 pm, d...@s2spowersports.com wrote:
>> >> So I picked up a cheap vehicle off craigslist - well, because that's
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>find out if this modification would cause him problems, such as with
>vehicle inspections, etc. if he lives in an area that requires them.

I still think his problem isn't the switch, but the linkage from the
key down through the column. I"ll bet all that starting with the
screwdriver has broken the "rack" or bent the linkage rod. MIght even
have pushed the switch down the column far enough that the linkage
won't work it anymore.
My boss's shop van has a similar problem We just took the switch off
the column and put a piece of rod in place of the stock one, then
bolted the switch back in place. When you wanna start the van, you
reach under the column and push the rod down. Doesn't bypass anything
but the actual lock cylinder and the mechinism in the column.
--
Old Crow "Yol Bolsun!"
'82 FLTC-P "Miss Pearl"
'95 YJ Rio Grande
BS#133, SENS, TOMKAT, MAMBM

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Shelldigger - 28 May 2007 13:17 GMT

Lol!

That reminds me what I did with our little economobile, the Escort.

The linkage broke inside the column, I discovered this whilst doing a
lockset
replacement, found the busted linkage, and started looking for the
part. Could
not get the part from a dealer, without pretty much buying a whole
steering
column, damnit.

So, I looked the situation over and built a "perma-key" I took a 3.5
inch bolt (1/4") ground down
the end to look like a standard screwdriver, so it would fit the ign
switch, welded a small
square of metal at the other end to serve as the "key", ran the whole
thing through a washer
which was JB'd in at the end of the lockset hole and voila..perma-key.
*NOTE* you must
disable the steering wheel lock to get away with anything like
this!!! This rig has worked well
for a long time now.

...and if anyone stole it...so what! Its an old Escort!!!!

Oh..and I have that same superpower, being able to break anything at
any time is a curse I tell ya...

> I still think his problem isn't the switch, but the linkage from the
> key down through the column. I"ll bet all that starting with the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> '95 YJ Rio Grande
> BS#133, SENS, TOMKAT, MAMBM

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