Possible Bad Ignition Switch?

Tongan310 · Feb 24, 2020

Hey guys so I got a problem thats got me stumped... Trucks a 97 cc 3500 with 454.

Brand new Alt and battery is fine for now. (Just take this as a note).

OKAY so here's what happens.

I was driving to work one day and the truck cut ALL power to everything for a split second. Everything came right back up. Noticed truck even went into what felt like neutral during the spit second too. (This happened about a year ago never thought about after.)

Come to this past weekend driving to get some food and damn thing did it again like 5 times within 10miles. (And once just sitting there idling while I was loading up my kids). Truck will loose power but come RIGHT BACK up if driving decently. If it dies while idling or stopped I will have to start restart the truck as it completely dies (Engine dies but electronics come back).

So in my mind I'm pretty sold on it needs an ignition switch. Its the only thing that comes to mind that could possibly cut that much power intermittently. Any other suggestions? My grounds seem fine but I'll go over them again.

df2x4 · Feb 24, 2020

Sounds like you're on the right track to me.

someotherguy · Feb 24, 2020

Long shot but worth checking. Your truck is probably old enough at this point that it no longer has the original spacer between the two positive cables where they attach to the battery, BUT just in case it does - years back, it was common to have trouble because the spacer gets worn and corrosion sets in between the cables and you don't see it because the cable end covers hide it. This was the design from 1995-up and it gave people the blues for a while.

Richard

RawbDidIt · Feb 24, 2020

Tongan310 said:
Hey guys so I got a problem thats got me stumped... Trucks a 97 cc 3500 with 454.

Brand new Alt and battery is fine for now. (Just take this as a note).

OKAY so here's what happens.

I was driving to work one day and the truck cut ALL power to everything for a split second. Everything came right back up. Noticed truck even went into what felt like neutral during the spit second too. (This happened about a year ago never thought about after.)

Come to this past weekend driving to get some food and damn thing did it again like 5 times within 10miles. (And once just sitting there idling while I was loading up my kids). Truck will loose power but come RIGHT BACK up if driving decently. If it dies while idling or stopped I will have to start restart the truck as it completely dies (Engine dies but electronics come back).

So in my mind I'm pretty sold on it needs an ignition switch. Its the only thing that comes to mind that could possibly cut that much power intermittently. Any other suggestions? My grounds seem fine but I'll go over them again.

Just had a similar issue a couple of months back. The truck would start and randomly the head unit would cut out intermittently, but not enough to be any more than a minor annoyance. Came out of work one day and the truck wouldn't start. Jiggled the keys and power came back so I was sure it was the ignition switch. Installed the new switch, had the same problem. Turns out the ground connection on my terminal I had installed a couple years back was loose. Still connected, but it was loose enough inside the terminal that it wasn't completing the circuit very well. Tightened it up, and this time I applied some lock tite and problem solved. You mentioned that you checked everything, so you're probably good, but just I'd double check power and ground before changing the ignition switch because it's a pain if it's anything like my 97 k1500. Had to get a switch for a 96 (I think) off if 1A auto and pull 3 missing pins from the old harness to make it all work. I have a post about it if you need to see it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Tongan310 · Feb 25, 2020

someotherguy said:
Long shot but worth checking. Your truck is probably old enough at this point that it no longer has the original spacer between the two positive cables where they attach to the battery, BUT just in case it does - years back, it was common to have trouble because the spacer gets worn and corrosion sets in between the cables and you don't see it because the cable end covers hide it. This was the design from 1995-up and it gave people the blues for a while.

Richard

err.. What spacer... lol.. I'll have to check cause I don't think I even have a spacer between the 2 positive wires. Really hope that's the case cause the ignition switch is a little more expensive than I thought it'd be.

HotWheelsBurban · Feb 25, 2020

Yes the newer ones are pricey and they are more work to change. Check all your connections cause I could be something as simple as a loose ground or hot wire,sounds like a ground though. Part of my truck's starting issue was that the ignition terminal on the solenoid was loose. Only even saw it on close inspection of the starter.

RawbDidIt · Feb 25, 2020

Tongan310 said:
err.. What spacer... lol.. I'll have to check cause I don't think I even have a spacer between the 2 positive wires. Really hope that's the case cause the ignition switch is a little more expensive than I thought it'd be.

There's a piece of metal between the two positive terminals. If you don't have anything there, that may well be your problem. Back before I merged the two into a single terminal, I used two washers and a lock washer to keep good contact between the two, just make sure they're smaller diameter than the little rubber boots. I have my old ignition switch harness if you want to purchase used. It was working, I almost reinstalled it when I found out it wasn't the issue, but it was too much work, and the replacement only cost me like $40-50 if I remember correctly.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Biggershaft96 · Feb 25, 2020

If those 2 dont solve the problem look into the wiring harness for the ignition switch.

Tongan310 · Feb 25, 2020

RawbDidIt said:
There's a piece of metal between the two positive terminals. If you don't have anything there, that may well be your problem. Back before I merged the two into a single terminal, I used two washers and a lock washer to keep good contact between the two, just make sure they're smaller diameter than the little rubber boots. I have my old ignition switch harness if you want to purchase used. It was working, I almost reinstalled it when I found out it wasn't the issue, but it was too much work, and the replacement only cost me like $40-50 if I remember correctly.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I was being sarcastic about the spacer. I know what your talking about however I honestly don't think I have one. I'll check when I get home tonight. Might look into crimping them all to 1 connector.

RawbDidIt · Feb 25, 2020

Tongan310 said:
I was being sarcastic about the spacer. I know what your talking about however I honestly don't think I have one. I'll check when I get home tonight. Might look into crimping them all to 1 connector.

I recommend doing a writing upgrade at the same time if you're going through the trouble.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Possible Bad Ignition Switch?

Tongan310

OBS Enthusiast

df2x4

4L60E Destroyer

someotherguy

Truly Awesome

RawbDidIt

I'm Awesome

Tongan310

OBS Enthusiast

HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!

RawbDidIt

I'm Awesome

Biggershaft96

Cant Getrite

Tongan310

OBS Enthusiast

RawbDidIt

I'm Awesome

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page