Pontiac Firebird 1967-2002 Birds of a feather flock together

Help with 68 ignition switch

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Old Apr 24, 2014 | 02:16 PM
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Default Help with 68 ignition switch

I have a 1968 Firebird 400. I am having problem with my ignition switch. When I crank it over it won't start until I release the key. Also no accessory power. I put in new switch with the same problem. Could it be the lock cylinder? I bought the car this way. Could the ignition harness be wired wrong? Please help.

Last edited by Paul Bell; Apr 28, 2014 at 07:00 AM.
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Old Apr 26, 2014 | 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by gmuscle1968
I have a 1968 Firebird 400.I am having problem with my ignition switch.When I crank it over it won't star til I release the key.Also no acessery power.I put in new switch with the same problem.Could it be the lock cylinder?I bought the car this way.Could the ignition harness be wired wrong?Please help.
Yes.

Typically, at the Ignition Switch, RED (Input) wires are Hot at all times, and a PPL wire goes to the starter solenoid. ORN and YEL wires are Hot in Run or Acc and BLK wires (or BLK / WHT - aka BLK with a WHT Tracer) = GND.

Get out the DVOM and go tracing.

Good luck!
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Old Apr 28, 2014 | 01:28 PM
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If you're still running the points ignition, there is a wire from the ignition switch that goes to the distributor side of the ballast resistor which bypasses the resistor while cranking the engine. If this wire is not connected (or broken somewhere along the way), your ignition may not be getting enough voltage to fire properly during cranking. Once the key is released to "ON", the voltage will jump up (due to not cranking the starter) and you suddenly have sufficient voltage for ignition.

The fact that your accessory circuit is also not working properly implies something is amok in that switch wiring.
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