1980 20r.
Ive had this truck a couple months and have never been able to get the ignition switch to engage the starter. I got a new one at autozone but that did nothing.
The ignition switch powers accesories just not starter.
Right now im cranking it off a push button but would like to go back to stock.
Ive seen oem switches for $80. Is there any alternative?

 

How sure are you that the problem is the ignition switch?
Put us right at your truck, let us see, hear, feel what you're working with and we'll help. Exactly what do you see, hear, feel when trying to crank with ignition switch?
Got schematic for your truck, a multi-meter and ready to dig in?
Post pics of the ignition switch, starter and starter solenoid with wire colors clearly showing.

ALL FOLKS,
The 1983 pickup FSM I have may help

 

Since the new switch didn’t solve the problem, then you have a wiring problem. Have you done a continuity check from the switch to the starter in the “Start “ position? May have a corroded connector at the starter solenoid. Also check the battery connector at the starter for corrosion

 

Agree with Lons81 (Pls see my signature).

Does your ignition switch connector look like this with the following colors?





Does it have a starter relay like in schematic?


Please download FSM from this link, unzip on your computer and see if it helps you find the starter relay, then let us know:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pS...kF0-AQUdsGVxnO

 

Yup i have the fsm and a multimeter.
Everything at my starter is working. Right now its wired off my push button to a ford style relay to the starter and it cranks every time.
When i try to connect the BW white from the ign switch to the starter relay i get nothing. No click. I will recheck continuity on my ig switch.

The other thing i need to check is my neutral saftey switch.

Sorry if this is scattered, trying to trouble shoot in between work.

 

Cool.
I don't know if the 1983 FSM that I have is exactly same as yours, so please post high resolution of your starting schematic and i'll note where and what to probe for.
If you could share the whole file via dropbox or google drive, so much better.

 

Got it sorted out..Not sure what I was doing wrong last time. BW-> starter relay got me where I need to go.

But in my electrical problems I found another gremlin. .30 amp draw coming off my battery with all my power turned off. I pulled a black wire (14-16 ga?) off the positive terminal and it went to 0 amps. This wire dissapears into the harness right at the battery so I need to trace it down. Anyone know off the top of their heads?

 

instead of pulling wires that aren't labeled try pulling fuses one at a time until the draw goes away then troubleshoot that individual loop.

 

Like AKWheerler says.

Nope, but a picture paints a thousand words. The least you could to is to let people trying to help - from possibly thousands of miles away - see, hear, feel, smell what you're working on.

 

I started pulling fuses and those didn't change anything which is why I went straight to the battery to find my problem.
I don't have any straight black wires at my fuse box so I have to trace it down elsewhere.

Sorry for the vague info, this is my secondary project I'm squeezing in as I try to troubleshoot my windshield wipers. The wipers are about to be pretty important as spring is kicking up some good rain storms and I'd love to be able to drive this truck so I can take my work truck off the road and do tie rods, brakes and shackles.

Anyways, this black wire doesn't seem to be affecting anything i need. I took it around the block and didn't notice anything missing. But so far my battery isn't draining!!!!! Which is about the coolest thing that's happened to this truck since I bought it.

Thanks for helping everyone!

 

Did that black wire look factory or did it look like an add-on that someone did in the past?

I am not familiar enough with that generation truck to know for sure.