key switch/ starting issues

[ricksta56]

I really did it this time; I absolutely can't handle under dash work. My car did not start today. When I turned the key, I was hearing a low thud sound coming from the center of the dashboard. No engagement of the starter happened. No solenoid clicking, I put the battery on charger to make sure it was strong. Same result just a low thud sound. I probably made the mistake of attempting to remove the key switch. I had it dangling and noticed that it appeared to be loose. The black plastic body and the aluminum cylinder had a loose fitment. I opened them, separated them and a spring and copper plate fell out. I have a 66.

[ricksta56]

I'd like to get the car started soon; I thought it may have been easy to change out the key switch......
Now that is in several pieces sitting on the console.

[simplyconnected]

Ford key switches are all similar. Yours has a plug for the wires on the back.. Earlier models had separate connectors, so you are very lucky.
YouTube has two videos you should see:
66’ Thunderbird - Replacing solenoid & ignition switch
Ignition Switch | 1965-1966 Mustang

I like the first one because the guy is really green at this. (You can start the video at 4:00 minutes.)
He shows the illumination housing (10A866) that holds the lamp (13466).

The Mustang switch is more basic but he shows each step. Again, they are basically the same.

From there I'm sure you can put yours back together. - Dave

image.png

11572 and 10A860 (w/bulb 13466) assemble from the back side.
11580 and the tumbler assemble from the front side.

[ricksta56]

thank you, I will watch those. Do you have any idea about the thud sound, just one thud per turning of key, with no contact to the starter

[jopizz]

I don't know of anything behind the dash that would cause a thud. Sometimes noises can appear to be coming from one place but they are just echoing from someplace else. The transmission bell housing is close to that area so perhaps you are hearing the starter or the flexplate. You can certainly start the car without the ignition switch. Just run a wire from the positive battery terminal to the + post on the coil and jumper across the solenoid. If you get the thud sound when you jumper across the solenoid and the engine doesn't crank then the starter is most likely bad.

John

[ricksta56]

Thanks John,

[ricksta56]

1st time for everything, I hot wired my car and was able to move it around. Now that makes me wonder if the solenoid really was the issue.

[jopizz]

The solenoid is easy to check. You have two small wires on the front of the solenoid. Remove the one on the bottom and run a wire from the battery positive terminal and touch the bare terminal on the solenoid where you removed the wire. If the starter cranks then the solenoid is good. If you get nothing or a click then it's bad. You don't want to run your car too long with it being jumped. You are feeding 12V directly to the coil. The ignition switch has a coil resistance wire that drops the voltage to 6V to the coil. That's to save the points from burning out.

John