74 comet factory floor shift, ignition switch on column.. is there a general answer that the elec switch on the column is bad or the mechanical part that activates the switch on the column goes bad.. i can straight wire the relay near the battery and the starter activates,,...however when the key is turned ..no power at the relay to activate the starter.....the problem just began with no warning..TIA for help..
Yes, replace the ignition switch on the column, its easy and cheap. Do check your fusible links though just in case it's one of them.
Will it start in neutral? On a factory floor shift car, the neutral safety switch is located on the transmission, there are also some wiring connections protruding from the center of the firewall. I'd be checking things out a bit, before just throwing parts at it, find yourself a wiring diagram.
no action/voltage in neutral or any gear position.. i will ck the neutral safety switch on the trans.. MSSMITH suggested ignition switch???.not clear on electrical or mechanical with the key..please explain ..TIA
i looked for neutral safety switch on side of transmission,not there,doesnt seem like it ever was....i have removed the starter switch on the column..bench tests ok??? im going to replace that original part any how....there isnt a safety switch on the clutch assy......maybe the safety is built in the starter switch somehow,,the shifter has to be in neutral to energize the relay near the battery..the 3 speed on the floor is factory,,,,,automatic seems to have neutral safety switch according to the books i read for floor shift automatics!! any more input is greatly appreciated..i have voltage supplied to the male part of the switch on the column..Help!!TIA!
Unless its an automatic, it womt be on the transmission, but witout knowing its a 3 speed, it's hard to help, when you said floor shift, I figured it was an automatic.
The ignition switch has 4 output states, off, run, accessory, and start. It can fail going between any of those states. I've had ones that were totally fine but when they went from start to run, they went open and made the car think there was no battery in the system. Had other ones that only went open in accessory. Also check for continuity at the I and S points on the relay, and the relevant wire at the ignition switch. If you have no continuity there the problem is somewhere else.
3 speed on the floor/no safety switch there...installed a new column starter switch today..$25 out the window..no results....i have a funky wire diagram that isnt very clear.printed off the forum a few years back..i will try to follow the wire the best i can. maybe some one has had the same problem TIA for help!!
You need a meter, and a wiring diagram. It sucks just throwing parts at it, but people seem to do it all the time, I see it in my job everyday. People don't take the time to see what's actually going on...I've never had a factory standard Maverick, or I'd know a little more about them.
i hot wired the the connector at the column from the correct tested terminals,one terminal is hot and i found the correct terminal to the starter relay,jumped them for a few seconds as the engine spun and started......tested the terminals on the column switch,identified the matching terminals... plugged it to the receiving block,manually activated the column switch..no start..( i mounted the switch on the column correctly)..turned the key.observed the switch plunger,,the actuator bottomed out right to the bottom of the switch,,,no start??....i adjusted the switch on the column by the book (simple stuff)..the safety some how might be in the reverse lock out in the 3 speed floor shifter to prevent engine start in gear?? TIA for any input!! that is just a far fetched guess on my 74 year old eyes,however doubtful !
there is no safety on the manual 3 speed. It will let you start in any gear without the clutch depressed.
found the problem..seat belt interlock switch on left firewall....not on wiring diagram,however mentioned in chilton manual..bypassed the safety switch and got the voltage to starter switch.problem ended.74/75 comet,not sure about maverick...Whew!
