I can barely get it to turn to start or to accessory. https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/trucks/electrical/ignition/b5a-11572-a-ignition-switch-housing-only The key is already bending and starting to break. I pulled the tumbler cylinder out and it turns fine. The problem is the tolerances inside the switch housing are way too tight. Once I pulled the cylinder out I turned the switch back and forth with a flat blade screwdriver about a thousand times (literally) and that didn't loosen it up at all! I even took it to a locksmith and he just confirmed my su****ions. Too tight. I don't even know if I can return it as I bought it a year ago. Even if I could, where could I get a quality switch that wasn't made in the same chinese factory? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Not with an ignition switch but the DC headlight switch I got from Shoe Box Central was defective right out of the box. Shoe Box Central sent me another no problem. The new one wasn't much better but at least it works. JMO
The above is why I always try to use good original Henry parts preferably NOS. I have found that even 70 year old good used Henry parts are far better than the repro. stuff which I try to avoid.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1254984551...SdoOS968RYm&var=&widget_ver=artemi***edia=SMS Found this on Ebay. A little pricey but it's a genuine Ford part.
I chucked my OG ignition switch, I had little confidence in a switch that old. Maybe I should have saved it. I got a "quality" one from Napa. I have to use Lock Ease on the key, it doesn't always want to come out when I shut the car off. I have had problems with practically anything I bought for the car from Napa.
Not an ignition switch, but the Dennis Carpenter door jamb switches for the dome light fell apart just trying to install. Fortunately, Ron Francis had better quality ones. I do not use an oem style ignition switch, so can't recommend anything. (late model steering wheel w/ key switch and separate ignition switch)
Since Dennis Carpenter p***ed away and the son took over quality has taken a dive, more and more they went to offshore produced parts, a lot of the rubber parts will have a very short life and fit issues. Sadly it's just not car parts, I ran across this interesting article: https://www.insider.com/companies-p...t of brands that,German man that started Aldi. Sign of the times.
Update: I was able to salvage my factory ignition switch. Problem was the key wouldn't turn so I removed the cylinder and replaced it with the DC cylinder and keys and it seems to work well. The key turns smoothly to acc, off, on and start and there's power to the posts that should have power so, that problem is solved. Now I have to deal with some other electrical issues. Isn't life grand!
"factory wiring" is way over my head. JFYI, Ron Francs' wiring kit for the 5.0 is about 1/2 the complexity and cost of their 4.6 harness that I used. It turns it into a pleasurable job.
I bought “Standard” brand replacements from a local parts store for both 10 years ago. They are possibly still available. As I remember I had to file something on the ignition switch.
The Jalopy Journal
