HELP!? Please? I am stuck, ignition problem.

[bri]

This morning when I got into my '95 D1, the iginition kind of stuck in start. I had to fuss with it until it would go back to run rather then start, it grinded the starter for maybe 20 seconds or so. I shut the vehicle off, tried again and all seemed normal.

Ran one errand, then another, came out and the thing is dead. When you turn the key nothing happens. No electricity in the cab, no radio, no lights on the dash, no fan.

The only thing that works is the door chime, interior dome lamps and the steering wheel does unlock.

Cannot shift out of park , either, so how am I to get a tow?

To make things worse, I have pretty much zero experience with electrical problems.

I am going to get back over there to try a couple of things, but I am hoping someone my have some idea where I should start.

Brian

 

[Cadaver]

Did you check the connections on the starter? Making sure they arent shorting on something by wiggling them around. Did you try jumping the battery? If the starter isnt making any noise, either the battery is extremely dead, the connections are failing, or the starter solenoid is shot. Im not real familiar with Rover starter circuits, but usually these are the culprits of a non starting vehicle. Try jumping the battery with another vehicle/battery. You may want to run through the fuses as well. Good luck!

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

maybe something in the starter is killing the battery

 

[Cadaver]

If the cables on the solenoid cross, they can sure cause problems on the battery, starter, and alternator. Jump the truck, but before hooking the positive to the dead truck, just tap it to the post. If it pops and sparks, you have a crossed wire at the solenoid or the pos wire to the starter has melted on something hot (exhast) and is shorting there.

But, based on what initially happened, it sound like the solenoid stuck and spun at engine speed. Which will tear up a starter solenoid rather quickly. It will also happen if you try to start an already running engine.

 

[GregH]

With what you desribe my guess would be ignition switch and/or solenoid. Start with checking switch.

 

[GregH]

If it's the switch for your 95 D1, it's probably STC1746 which is about $100. Motorcars LTD (Texas) has it for $96.55.

Good luck-

 

[bri]

Jumping did nothing to change the situation. Fuses seem OK.

How do you check the switch?

Brian

 

[GregH]

Check for power from ancillaries that are powered with ignition ON (i.e. my RRC has power to cig lighter only with ignition ON).

If no power I would pull steering column cover and check condition of switch which is connected to the bottom of ignition lock. Pull and check for burned connections and if it looks good check for continuity from ignition switch through connecting circuit wires. If bad, then put in new switch and plug and play.