Starter or ignition switch, Is my ignition or starter going out? Options

[brooks944]

My 75 is finally home and seems to be running fine with still a bunch of body and suspension work to do. It was hard to start but now it starts after about three tries. But sometimes it won't turn over at all. Not a battery problem and it seems if I pull the key a little while starting it will catch. Is this a starter issue or ignition switch? My preference would be the cheapest of the two...

Thanks,
Rick

[brooks944]

Tanks guys. What is the ford relay?

[914Mike]

Tanks guys. What is the ford relay?

That's a reference to a "Hot Start Relay" Like the one here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperC...H_pg1.htm#item4

A relay simply switches a heavy load (like the starter solenoid) with a smaller signal. That means that less current flows through your key switch so it should last longer.* It also means that you can make the wires that trigger the starter solenoid much shorter, so more juice gets to the solenoid, eliminating the sometimes huge voltage drop that occurs when you ask the whole current to travel from the battery, up to the key switch and then back to the starter solenoid.

Any 12V relay designed for 30A or more will work, Ford is often quoted, because back in the day that was the only one people knew about. I've read that the Ford relay actually draws as much current as the starter solenoid, so isn't actually saving your key switch like a Bosch relay that draws a fraction of that will.

* Electronics whizzes will tell you that the current is not actually the problem that causes the switch to burn out, it's when you turn the switch from "Start" back to "On" that causes a big arc to burn the contact in the switch, and that you should use a diode to prevent the arc. A relay will cause a much smaller arc than the starter solenoid does, so it does save the life of your switch...