ignition switch bad??

pudman

Member
May 31, 2008
109
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tujunga,ca
86 gt mustang. so I'm sitting at a red light, and the car just died. tried restarting with no luck. fuel pump primes; engine cranks strong, but no go. I did the no spark no fuel test and concluded it is getting no spark. when I did the following test....
Place ignition key in on, with the 12-vdc test light connected to a good ground, probe the (+) terminal at the coil (Red/Lt Green wire)...test light off = usually an ignition switch or 20 GA fuse link problem....test light on = next step.

I get test light off. fuseable links are good. But with the key "on" I get all power
inside...fan,radio, etc. so my question is if the switch is bad in the "on" position wouldn't I end up with no power to the dash also? this is the original switch from 1986
 
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There are mulitple circuits in the ignition switch that power different things.

So yes you can dash lights and not have power at the coil or TFI. You could do a continuty check from the ignition switch to the coil and see what you get.
 
update

upon further investigation it turns out to be the MSD box. I didn't even think of it at the time. This will be the second one gone bad. I'll remember your suggestions for the next time :nice: