no start, could ignition be the problem?

[slam59]

A few times when I went to start my 74 c10, turned key and nothing. I have had my key get stuck like 3 times where I could not get it out of the ignition. After turning the key left to right like 10-15 times it finally came out. So the few times that I turned the key and it did not turn over, I just thought maybe it got stuck before it went all the way to the right to start the truck so I just reacted by turning key off then turning back to the right and truck fired right up. Well this morning I turned the key like 15 times and absolutely nothing. I have a new battery and starter, and alternator is good. I turned on lights and they were their normal brightness and honked horn and was very loud as usual. Then turned key again and it fired right up like it usually does. My question is, I know there is no wiring in the ignition as far as the ignition itself goes on the cylinder. But could it be it is worn from years of turning the truck on? Maybe the teeth on it? And thats why its not turning over correctly? It does have alot of play in the cylinder and I have been meaning to get a new one, especially now. So you guys think that this would be the problem? Thanks in advance guys.

[Psycho_SWB]

It could be the ignition switch on side of the steering column or the neutral safety switch.

[Jabes1]

I would start with the neutral safety switch, super easy to adjust and bypass if needed. Its down toward the pedals on the top of the column.

[slam59]

Originally Posted by Jabes1

I would start with the neutral safety switch, super easy to adjust and bypass if needed. Its down toward the pedals on the top of the column.

How do you know if it needs adjusting? How do you adjust that?

[Jabes1]

First simply bypass it. Get a 3" piece of lead wire splice the ends off of it. Unplug the neutral switch and push the ends of wire into the terminals. MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL it will now attempt to start in gear since it is bypassed. Crank it and if its out of adjustment it should start. If it is not the problem it will act the same. Mine was doing the same thing, except I can pull the key out with it runnning. There is no sense in adjusting or messing with it, if it isnt the problem, just a quick way to check.

[slam59]

Well I kept wondering about this, and since my steering column has about maybe 1/2" to 3/4" of play in it, I decided to try something. I wondered if when I parked my truck the other day when it would not start, since there is play in the column, maybe if it's all the way to the left or all the way to the right, maybe thats making a wire or something not have enough contact or something and thats why it wont start sometimes. Thought maybe when I put it in park I pushed hard on it to where it was al the way to the left. So I went outside and got in truck and with my hands turned the column all the way to the right towards the right front tire which like I said is about 1/2 to 3/4 on an inch, and the trruck fired right up. Then I turned it all the way to the left towards the drivers side tire and turned the key and nothing at all! I did this like 5 times and every time I had the column towrads the left all the way it would not start, only the key turned and nothing at all. So what wire could be causing this in there?

[slam59]

Anyone?