Serious Problem...Maybe

My gauges (only) weren't working so I checked the wiring and found that the GY/Y wire was broken at the ignition switch. Fixed that, but now there's no power when I turn my key either to the run or acc position. The sensors aren't waking up, no noise from the fuel pump, no power to the dash. The lights, interior lights, chimes, console light, etc. all work. The ignition switch was replaced about a month ago, but I checked it with a spare and that's not the problem.

I just got done fixing the same gauge problem on my car. I pulled out the large GY/Y wire to solder the little cluster wire to it. When I went to put it back in I noticed there was choice of two slots to plug back into the main plug.....I ASSume I picked the right one as everything worked...You many not have been so lucky if you used the same procedure.

No, I didn't do that. I just soldered it back where it was supposed to be and didn't remove any other wires. This is at the switch I'm talking about. BTW, was it just the gauges that didn't work for you, or was it everything like mine?

Mine was just the gauges. But on the ignition switch plug the little wire for the gauges goes into the same place as the large GY/Y wire. That is where mine was bad. was right there. Its a common thing to go wrong. If you do a search on "instrument cluster" or "ignition switch" you might find some more data.

I know all about the gauges. That is not my problem. This is my problem:

Originally posted by Gary F:
now there's no power when I turn my key either to the run or acc position. The sensors aren't waking up, no noise from the fuel pump, no power to the dash. The lights, interior lights, chimes, console light, etc. all work. The ignition switch was replaced about a month ago, but I checked it with a spare and that's not the problem.

I don't know if it connected with the switch or what. That is what I'm trying to find out.

did you mess with the starter solenoid at all?...something else has to have been disturbed....even if only wiggled or something.

No, didn't go near the solenoid. Everything happened in the steering column. There's no power to any of the dash accessories or to the solenoid. Near as I can figure, there's no power going to the ignition switch itself, and I don't know which wire supplies the current. The plug into the switch is halfway melted and the insulation on the large gy/y is scorched about 1/2 inch up.

Power is on the two yellow wires through a fusible link connected to the battery side of the starter relay, the BATT terminals on the switch. The larger GY/Y wire (switch A2) supplies power in RUN to fuses 5 and 17, the smaller is the resistance wire to the instruments. You can use either of the A2 connections on the switch if you want to change the position in the connector. You have to confirm that the connector is still functional and actually making good contact with the blades on the ignition switch.

You may need a new ignition switch as the usual cause of problems in the connector is the switch going bad.

Thank you Don. Very informative. Relay, aka solenoid, correct?

relay/solenoid, either term is correct yes. The switch going bad is pretty common I had to replace mine a while back. I also had to get a new male connector and put the wires back in.

Don that is good info to know that you can use either of the A2 connections on the switch.