how do i start my truck without a key

[72SWB4X4]

i just dropped my keys in the water and got to a computer which wires do i jump to start the truck without a key...

haha laugh it may happen to you someday

[krue]

I don't know which ignition wires to jump, the only way I know to do it is run a hot wire to your coil, then use a screwdriver to jump from the positive cable on your starter solenoid to the post on the engine side of the solenoid. I don't know how easy that is to reach on a big block, but it's easy on a small block.

[Russell]

If you know anything about the wiring, I'd guess you could probally go under the dash behind the ignition switch and do some jumping...

[67chevemall]

You can get it running by jumping the starter posts
BUT as for the sterring wheel lock you'll have to break it or smash the coloum and
un lock it there!
OR hopefully your wheel doesn't lock!

Cheers

[53burb]

You need to run power to the distributor. If it is an HEI (electronic) ignition, then u can run it directly from the battery. If it is points, then you will have to run power to upstream of the ballast resistor. You will then have to jumper the leads on starter solenoid temporarily until it starts. You have to jumper the main lead from the battery, and the "s" terminal on the solenoid. Thiis will work temporarily, do not forget to remove power from the distributor when u r home...

[thisolechevy]

if its the stock engine or atleast the stock wiring on teh back of your ignition switch there is a plug, unplug it and you will have about 5 or 6 different colored wires going into it. connect the PURPLE to the BROWN and your starter will engage and it should crank up!! just be careful thats alot of power going throught the wires. I would get a new lock cylinder IMMEDIATLY to solve your problem.

[2wdBlazer]

Alot of these older key holes are real sloppy. A small screwdriver stuck in there may work like a key or even try another GM key. Sometimes they work.

[toddtheodd]

"or even try another GM key"
I work in the food distribution industry, and when I helped in transportion I ran into the problem of our truck drivers constantly trying to take the key of the truck they want. Well, when a driver comes in that needs a sleeper, and that's the only sleeper on the yard, we have to get it started somehow. I became very adept at "jiggling" a key. If you play with it right, you can start anything with a "similar" key. I've even started one with a padlock key.

[atcavage]

Maybe I'm a little late, but I've found that a screwdriver in the ignition can work, especially on older ignitions. Push starting is always and option.

[tom hand]

If wiring not your thing....just run by a parts store and buy a new ignition switch....unplug the wires from the old and plug it into the new...turn it with a screwdriver because when you buy just the switch, it won't have the lock cylinder...by the way thats how easy it is to steal one of these trucks...so install some kind of thieft prevention when you get it home

[GMCPaul]

Whew thankfully he called us after reading a few of these directions. In the future if any of you lose your key you take a short 2" wire and stick one end in large red wire terminal on back of ignition switch and other end in the large pink wire terminal, this gives power to the trucks electrical system to supply power for points or HEI Distributor, then you take a second wire from large red wire on back of the ignition switch and touch it to the purple wire which begins cranking the motor over as soon as motor starts remove the 2nd wire to disengage the starter.
You can use a screwdriver at starter to crank motor over to start also instead of using a second wire. You guys would have had him scavenging all over several, several feet of wire and then a few had the wrong wires posted to start the truck and keep it running.
So Red to pink for power, red to purple to crank motor over.
GMCPaul

[krazy_texan]

yeah, what Gmc Paul said

[jorgensensc]

And if you don't have the pigtail on the back of the ignition switch, and only spade connectors, be sure to put the wires back on the correct posts. I hotwired my truck once when I left my keys out of state and flew back home, only to find I couldn't get in my truck. Thankfully I got in and hotwired it, pretty easy, but when I got the keys and tried to put it all back correctly I got the wires put on the ignition switch wrong. The previous owner had a company put a new wiring harness under the dash and they wired 2 wires backwards. I played hell trying to get the thing running until I figured it out.so uch for wiring diagrams

[BtnkBndt]

Maybe I should print this and post it on the truck.