Ignition Solenoid............

[FTotts]

Gents;

I am brand new here so bear with me until I get my bearings around the form. The issue I have is on an 04 quad cab &5. 9 4x4. The problem is the ignition solenoid. It does not work, nor does the steering wheel lock when the truck is turned off. The way I start the truck is to flip a little toggle swith to the on position and then use the key an normal. To shut down, turn em both off and that is it. I found this problem in the middle nowhere, Northern Ontario,Canada the day before I was to load up and travel back to Ohio! At any rate I called the dealed and was infomed that there was over 3500 on back order, about 100 en route with no time of arrival. The part is made by bosch. I dont really mind the set up I have but it would be nice to have everything working like it should. Please share yoiu wealth of knowledge with me on this matter.

Thanks

Fred T

 

[JApol]

Alright,

You turn on the toggle switch and the truck cranks and starts with the keyed switch right?

First, do you have gauge lights? Does the motor crank?

Depending on how you have your toggle switch wired could there be an open in that part of the circuit preventing the truck from turning over?



Keep your toggle switch on and move your keyed switch in this order. ON, OFF, ON, OFF, ON, OFF, ON. Leave it in the ON position and look at your odometer. If there are any codes to display from the ECM they will be displayed here. If there are no coded or when the codes are done being displayed DONE will appear. Don't worry about the codes erasing when you see them, they are stored till cleared by a scan tool or 5 good starts. Please post the codes here so we can see them and help you trouble shoot your problem.

Welcome to the forum, hopefully you get your $35 worth on your first post.



Good luck in your repair.

 

[FTotts]

Could I just use my hypertech programmer to get the codes ? The toggle switch was installed by a mechanic in the north of Canada in order to make the truck run period. Before the switch it was dead as a door nail. I will get the codes one way or the other

 

[JApol]

I am not familiar with the Hypertech but if it can read codes then use that.

When you have both switches on do all the dash lights come on for 3 seconds and then go out?

I jope you find your problem soon

Jeff

 

[FTotts]

Checked for DTC with the Hypertech programer and found none. So the way things work right noe is the key only operatedthe starter. The toggle switch operates all the power ot the rest of the system. All the dash lights work as they normally should withthe switch but not the key. ATHe guy who installed the switch told me that he installed it as he would install a remote start kit but instead of the remote start module there is a manual switch there.

Thanks

F

 

[rbattelle]

ATHe guy who installed the switch told me that he installed it as he would install a remote start kit but instead of the remote start module there is a manual switch there.

What!?



So you paid someone to install a remote start switch, and instead he installed a toggle switch? I'm confused.



Seems to me you've got no choice but to order an ignition switch and wait for it to come in.



Ryan

 

[JApol]

He installed the switch the same way that a remote start would be wired in. I read through the post 3 times before I caught that.

I would bet that your ignition switch is dead or something happened with the aux switch install.



I did something similiar with a kill switch on my truck the way your manual switch is wired in.



Good luck with your repair.

 

[dan.poitras]

I can't see the problem in obtaining a "relay". They are pretty much generic.

Can be gotten from several sources ( G. M. , Ford, Navistar, Freighliner etc. )

 

[rbattelle]

I can't see the problem in obtaining a "relay". They are pretty much generic.

No, I think he's talking about the ignition lock cylinder. The thing in the steering column. At least, that's the impression I got. The term "ignition solenoid" is not consistent with that, but...



Ryan

 

[FTotts]

Whew, I am amazed at what a poor writer I am. You are correct, there is a toggle switch wired in as if a remote starter were wired in. I never asked for ar remote, I just asked for the mechanic to get my truck running so I could get home. I guess solenoid is not the correct ter either. The part that supposedly needs replaced is the ignition switch. The part the key goes into is just fine and locks the shift lever in park like is should. I should have a new switch in a couple days and hope that it will take care of the problem. I will keep everyone informed. Thanks for looking in and point out my writing shortcomings.

F

 

[Gene Heck]

Check out this link on ebay. I have used him quite a few times now with no problems. The vendors ebay name is - REDLINEAR, the owner is Dan.





05 Dodge ram Steering Column Tilt:eBay Motors (item 360190241529 end time Sep-21-09 21:38:42 PDT)

 

[WoodChuck]

BTW, technically we don't have ignition switches in diesel land. Our engines are compression ignition. We do have a run/start switch.

 

[FTotts]

Well, anybody got anymore ideas? I installed the new run/start switch and still have the problem. Still no DTC's either. I am afraid I may have to take it to a dealer an let them hook it to their computer. Problem is the local dealer is $100 per hour. While I was there today getting my recall inspection done I asked them/showed them the problem. They said it would be at least an hour on the computer to trouble shoot. None of the mechanics had ever seen the problem.

 

[rbattelle]

FTotts, how good are you with electricity? I ask because I can't help wondering whether the guy who hacked the thing to install the switch screwed it all up.

You might want to carefully diagnose what he did to be sure you've covered the basics before going to the dealer.

Ryan

 

[FTotts]

Well from the looks of his work he didnt really hack anything up. Infact with out what he did I wouldnt have been able to start the truck. In the areas he worked the wires are not cut,simply stripped ina very small area, and the additional wire soldered in place and covered with electrical tape. So no it is not a hack job.

Thanks though