I bought a 1993 f150 with the inline 6 cylinder recently. My first truck that is a Ford. Friday morning it wouldn't crank. I figured maybe the battery was dead, but got it tested and it is fine. I moved on to the sylenoid, because it's cheap and easy to replace, still nothing. I decided after further pondering to replace the ignition switch. I also replaced the cylinder as it was loose and wore out. Now I can only get the dash lights on with the engagement rod on the switch in the open position. With it closed I get nothing, not even the buzzer and lights I got with the old switch. Any idea what i might have done wrong? This is a very time sensitive matter, as I have to go to work Monday.

 

Did you check ALL the fuses?
The ign switch assy on the column is able to be adjusted if I recall correctly and can be moved up or down to place it in the correct position so everything works.
Is the vehicle a stick or automatic ?
If you get juice to lite up the dash we may be able to offer a suggestion to start it from under the hood as a last resort so you can get it started to go to work.

 

It is an automatic. I checked all the fuses, none blown. I feel like I messed up on the cylinder, it turns loosely and doesn't feel like it is catching. Not sure how you would adjust switch. There is an actuator rod that slides to an open or closed position. The one I took off was closed, the new one will only give power to the warning light if open , and they won't turn off even if I cut the ignition off and remove the key

 

What you might try is to remove the tumbler section and look inside at the place where the part of the tumbler fits into and see if anything appears out of place. It could be that you didn't index the tumbler part with the part in the column. The key should have been in the on position when the tumbler was removed and installed and I usually suggest that the battery be disconnected because everything is on when this is done . Check all the things over and let me know what you find.

 

It is impossible to know if it was in the right position when I removed it. The old cylinder was shot pretty bad. It spun freely before I even pushed the pin in. I pulled the tumbler out, and I can't seem to get everything back I and aligned properly. I gave up for the evening. I am considering just bypassing the ignition to a toggle switch, with a button for the starter.

 

There are a few things you could try.
Keep in mind if you get the rod and gear in the wrong position it could lock the steering wheel in position and not be ale to move. Not knowing the condition of the internal parts some wound up replacing the upper steering column assy because they didn't want to get involved in correcting the problem.
I suppose you should do what you have to, so you can use it to go to work and get into it when you have more time and are not under pressure to get to work.
There is a rack with teeth and a gear that indexes with that rack that the ign tumbler moves. Attached to that rack is the rod that goes down to the switch. One last question, does the vehicle have a tilt steering wheel? If not , makes job much simpler.

 

Got the ignition reassembled and in working order. Got the new starter, but I can't seem to get the ignition wire crimp to hold. I'm starting to hate this truck lol.

 

If you don't have a pair of crimping pliers a pair of vise grips will make a tight crimp as long as you have the right size terminal.

 

Borrowed a good set of crimpers . Truck is running and driving. Thanks Hanky.

 

Thanks for the update. Always good to hear of a job well done !