[devildodge]

Hi all. My 78 powerwagons key has come up missing (I think my 2 year old has something to do with it).

All I need to do is move it over beside my trailduster as it is going to be giving up its salvageable parts.

Is there any way to get it to fire without cutting wires or replacing something.

If all else fails, how would I hook up a toggle switch to start it, since I might need to move it a few times.


any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

everything works fine so it is just not starting because of no key.

 

[TheRamChargerMan]

With what you say you need to do, your best bet is to remove the steering wheel and pull the igntion switch out and put another one in. They are only like 15 bucks at the parts store, but getting the steering wheel off is tricky if ya don't have the right tools.

You can start it without doing this, but you will have to shift it manually at the transmission while laying under it (not very safe) and you will have no way to steer it unless you disconnect the steering column from the steering box.

I'd recommend replacingthe switch, cuz you get a new key with it.

 

[AZ-Trailduster]

i think TRCM is talking about the tumbler rather then the ignition switch. You can go buy another ignition switch and just plug it into the harness under the dash and turn it by hand and that should do it, but this might not be a good idea if you have a locking column.

 

[RXT]

If you're gonna part the truck out, just take a BFH and a big screw driver and beat out the lock. Then you can start the truck with the screw driver, unfortunately you won't be able to use the steering column in another truck.

Ed

 

[devildodge]

the steering wheel and the gear selector both move...that part was taken care of before i got it.....just the ignition itself won't turn. I don't want to break the column as I am going to use it in the trailduster. Man it is so nice out and I want to get started but they are about 100 yards apart and that will waste my precious time and the truck happens to be in the wrong place.

Any ideas on the switch like a race car uses.

 

[AZ-Trailduster]

there are ways to turn the starter, but i think the ignition switch has to be working for it to actually run. So I think you'll need to plug in another ignition switch and run it that way.

 

[TheRamChargerMan]

true...wrong nomenclature....

it's much cheaper to replace the tumbler than the ignitoin switch tho..

 

[TaZMaNiaK]

As long as the column lock is already broken, you can just "borrow" an ignition switch from the 'Zone, do what you need to do, and just return it. Getting past the steering/transmission lock would've been your only obstacle to a simple hotwire, since they would require removing the wheel and the locking plate, and if you go that far into the column, you might as well just pop the key cylinder out since the release pin is right there. If you have some female blue spade connectors and some 16ga scrap wire, cut 2 pieces like 6" long, strip nd twist one end of each together, then crimp on a spade to the double end and strip the other ends. Pull the two switch plugs apart, and on the 2 pin connector (wiring harness side, obviously ) plug the spade into the 12ga BLACK wire, then on the other connector put one wire into the hole with the 16ga RED wire (ignition), then touch the other wire to the hole with the 18ga ORANGE wire (starter) and it should start up for you. The pink wire is the ballast resistor bypass, and it *should* fire without it. It should run until you pull the wire from the red socket.

You could most easily put a pushbutton starter on there... Observe.. The colors will match what you have...

Matt {peace}

 

[devildodge]

thanks for the info. I will try that. I am making a mud truck out of it when i am done so a pushbutton start was in the plans anyways.

 

[willy J]

you cant get two friends to help push?

 

[devildodge]

i figured you were going to say you would tow it.....lol

 

[awyseguy]

Keep it simple.. My sister once took the keys to my Roadrunner so I couldn't leave the house.. Take a bou 3 feet of wire.. and jumper from the coil to the battery.. Then jump the starter relay with a screwdriver.. Presto.. Your running.. To shut it off.. take the jumper wire off the battery. If you want to actually drive it that way somewhere.. You'll need to add a second wire to the fuse panel to jumper from the switced circuits to the always hot ones to make the accessories like turn signals and etc work. Done it several times.. Piece of cake.
Aaron Wyse

 

[SeahawkDodge]

There is a very easy way to do this guys!

On the bottom of your column, just inside the dash, there is a silver box held on by a bolt. Unbolt that, and you will notice a wire about the size of a coat hangar that the ignition switch pushes when you rotate it. All you have to do is use a scribe or something to push it all the way and engage the starter. The four positions are the same as the ignition, off, acc, on and start. Have fun.

 

[devildodge]

that is what i have been trying to do. Run the wire from the positive battery post to the positive coil post...correct. I am having trouble with the starter part. could you explain more.

 

[74powerwagon200]

we had to do the coil wire and screwdriver trick on my brothers truck cause it had no keys when we got it. on the driver side fender is the starter realy and there is a power wire from that which runs to the starter there should be a constant hot at that relay so take a screwdriver and make sure it has a plastic handle and touch the poles together and it should send power to the starter. You could check with a test light to find the hot wire on the realy i think its the one toward the fire wall but i dont remember for sure

 

[74powerwagon200]

hey I was just wondering if you ever got your power wagon moved?

 

[devildodge]

yeah i got it moved, actually took it for a ride, i used the coil wire, and jumped the starter. Thanks for all the info and help

 

[awyseguy]

Glad to hear.. Now if you want to you can add a toggle switch to the coil.. and a push button for the starter relay.. You've already found the points to connect everything.
Aaron