[DeTomaso] Ignition Switch

[Scott Carpenter]

Well it DID wind up being the switch.. However before we took it all apart
we had already checked the junction box.

Long story short... One of the two little plastic pins in the switch had
bent over and was not allowing whatever connection it needs to make to be
made. I am not sure if the spring was broken or if the little plastic pin
just got bent...  The end result means that the wire that drives the gauges
and whatever else was needed for the car to actually start was getting no
juice.  Before we took it apart we ran a wire with a 30AMP fuse from the
other wire that did have juice over to where this one needed to be and the
gauges came to life and the car actually was able to start and run.. So I
was able to at least put it back up on the lift...

It was at that point that we decided to dive into the switch... While my
switch is different than the one in the write-up on the Pantera Place that
write-up was still very helpful...

At this point I am going to try chasing down a replacement though my wife's
uncle, who was helping me, did take the switch with him. He thinks he can
either fix it himself or he can get a friend that does electronic work to
fix it...

Thanks for all the input from everyone.. I just wanted to post on here to
let everyone know that in this instance it did end up being a bad/broken
switch... :-(

Scott
'71 Pantera #1523




On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 12:53 AM, <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:

>
> NO!  Stop!
>
> The problem is almost assuredly NOT the switch itself, but rather the
> junction block between the ignition switch harness and the main wiring
> harness.  Various high-wattage accessories (including super-duper
> headlights, perhaps?) draw excess power through the ignition switch.  The
> junction block is an incredibly primitive thing, and it is VERY common to
> find them melted and toasted.
>
> Leave the $400 switch alone for now.  Drop the column down, and investigate
> the junction block (where the wires are attached with screw terminals).  I
> bet you'll find your problem right there.
>
> Exhaust all possibilities before mucking around with the switch....
>
> Mike
>
> Mike
>
>
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