Turn the key and the engine cranks and starts.....and keeps cranking. Turn key off and it's still cranking. Take key out and it's still cranking. Ended up unhooking the battery.

I'm assuming the only thing it can be is either the starter relay (which i just replace a few months ago cause it went out) or the ignition switch itself right? I'll test the relay since that's the easiest thing to do. Just making sure i'm not missing anything...a lot going on this weekend.

 

Yeah, sounds like the relay 'welded' itself shut... that'll do it.

 

Quick question before my hands get dirty.

If I disconnect the ignition switch wire (smallest one) and reconnect the battery...then
A, if it keeps trying to start than it is the solenoid (because it is welded itself shut)
B. If nothing happens than it is the ignition.
correct right? Has to be the solenoid than because it kept trying to crank over.

*Doesn't have a relay...my mistake. It's a solenoid. (LOL...i know what they are but not what the difference is)

 

It could be the ignition switch

 

Yeah...I'm at a loss. Battery is now dead...starting to think it's the ignition switch since the solenoid tests "open"

 

So, battery died on ya?

New ignition switch is likely what you need.

Happy adventures getting to that thing and replacing it...

 

Charging battery now. I know it's dead, but it's been on the charger for almost 2 hours and now I got nothing. No lights or anything. Wondering if I now also hooked up the solenoid wrong. Postive battery cable to one post and two cables coming off the other?

 

Update:

Yeah, stupid me didn't hook up the cable going to the fuse block on the positive side. Also my battery charger (which i had to run out and buy) kept getting unplugged which drained the battery. Takes so much power to start the truck that even half charge wouldn't budge the starter.
So now with an almost full charge the truck started. Hopefully my battery isn't F-ed now with all the draining.

*I read the installation instructions for the solenoid this time and had the posts backwards, shouldn't have, but wondering if that is why it failed in less than a year? Or more likely it is just a cheap *** part and they don't figure me to use the lifetime warranty.

 

EDIT* problem fixed

I'm back! Did you miss me? Truck won't start again. Not getting power to the soliniod from the ignition. So it could be one of four things.
1. Bad wire....don't think so, everything looks good
2. Bad ignition cylinder...don't think so (could be but doubtful)
3. Bad neutral switch...could very well be, won't be able to test until weekend.
4. This thing..what is it and where is it located? Parts guy said this was probably the problem.


*WOW, have had this truck for 3years. Has at least another in her if I can fix this.