Kill switch killed too much?

[SlicksInRain]

I just got my truck back from the body shop and having a kill switch installed. Right now my gage lights do not want to work and if I turn my headlights on my dome light comes on and so does the floor light. If I turn the headlights off everything is okay. Everything was fine tonight until I drove the truck for about a mile and the gages just went out and other lights came on... they are not 100% lit. How do I make it fine again? I changed a few fuses and nothing has worked so far.

 

[ryoken]

sounds like the headlight switch...

 

[SlicksInRain]

What can I do to fix this?

 

[dremu]

What can I do to fix this?

If I was you, I'd have driven back to body shop and raised hell. Unless somehow it's a coincidence that you're having electrical problems after they installed a kill switch. Seems to me like you paid money to have your truck screwed up.

It could be the headlight switch, could be the battery ground straps -- heck, have you checked all the fuses?

The headlight switch will depend on year, but you're gonna want to take the plastic dash around the instrument cluster off, and the switch will be attached to the metal dash. At least on ye olde trucks I own, it unscrews and pops out the back, and you then unplug the big electrical connector from it. Installation is, as they say, the reverse of removal.

And of course, this being an electrical thing, you've disconnected the battery negative terminal(s) prior to dinking with the dash. Which gives you a good chance to examine the wiring for poor connections, corrosion, etc.

All of that would be in your Chilton's or Hayne's, the best fifteen bucks the budding mechanic can spend on their truck.

But I'd start at the most recent change to the truck.

-- A

 

[Hossbaby50]

The most common way to put a kill switch on most of these trucks has no bearing on those other systems. It all depends on how it was installed. Mine is installed inline with the power wire for the ignition coil. It just toggles power on and off to the ignition coil. It is very effective because the truck will just crank and crank all day but it will never start because it won't get spark.

Harley

 

[SlicksInRain]

Mine cuts off the fuel pump and it works quite well.

I'm driving back to the body shop and demand that this be fixed.

 

[RootBreaker]

Mine cuts off the fuel pump and it works quite well.

I'm driving back to the body shop and demand that this be fixed.

that is it?
1. fuel pump
2. stinger battery relay
3. msd ignition

so if anyone steals the truck, they knew the truck or towed it away

 

[NV_K5]

The most common way to put a kill switch on most of these trucks has no bearing on those other systems. It all depends on how it was installed. Mine is installed inline with the power wire for the ignition coil. It just toggles power on and off to the ignition coil. It is very effective because the truck will just crank and crank all day but it will never start because it won't get spark.

Harley

Mines the same way but cuts the ground since I didn't want the hot coil line strung throughout the firewall.

 

[SlicksInRain]

It was just a fuse I overlooked. When the body shop found out it was that simple they told me to get the f out! I checked all the fuses that matter, but I guess I should have that tool to check the fuses. I'm glad it was fixed for less than 1$.

I love this truck. So simple to fix... I mean maintain.

 

[RootBreaker]

When the body shop found out it was that simple they told me to get the f out! .

know what.... I still dont think that is right... if they are a company they should still be courteous....

unless ya are adding a bit to that statment

 

[Hossbaby50]

Mines the same way but cuts the ground since I didn't want the hot coil line strung throughout the firewall.

My switch is just in a the 12v supply to the coilpack. It doesn't cut the power that comes out of the coil. The coil just never gets any juice while the switch is flipped.

Harley