Ignition Switches

[sbolt19]

Alright, last week I fried a starter solenoid & relay at once. Got both fixed standing in the snow at work here, then found out that the ignition switch was going bad as well. It wouldn't turn the EFI pump off without wiggling the key to the right position. Gunni had sent me an ignition switch as a backup last summer, so I installed it and things are going fine for the time being. That being said, this is a Centech harness and they use a cheap 1970 Jeep CJ-5 ignition switch. This latest one I put on is going to fail, its just a matter of when, and when it does, I'd like to be ready to put something in that won't have the short shelf life that this one does. Any one have a suggestion? This switch has the plugs for the CJ switch and I'd like to get something that doesn't wear out. This is the 3rd switch I have used in the last 2-3 years and in the 14 years I've had this harness, I have gone through maybe 5 switches. Throw something out there and lets see if it sticks guys.

[Justin]

I'd be inclined to give Centech a call. They may have a solution and were extremely helpful when I called them about a switch problem. Even sent me a new high beam switch for free despite my telling him a couple of times that the original broke because of my rusty floorboard's flex. Might also be worthwhile to post up on a Jeep forum to see if anyone has a lead on a really high quality switch.

[sbolt19]

I called them before I posted the question, and pretty much got the same reaction I got last time I talked to them about it. The guy got real defensive and told me that he can't control the quality of the switches because they don't make them. And he wasn't real helpful on it either. Basically told me that here is the part # and I can try to find something different if it is what I want to do. I've never been impressed with their customer service in the past and wasn't this morning when I called the guy either.

[Kinder]

Can you splice a bronco (ford) connector into the centech harness and just use a regular bronco ignition switch?

[Justin]

I called them before I posted the question, and pretty much got the same reaction I got last time I talked to them about it. The guy got real defensive and told me that he can't control the quality of the switches because they don't make them. And he wasn't real helpful on it either. Basically told me that here is the part # and I can try to find something different if it is what I want to do. I've never been impressed with their customer service in the past and wasn't this morning when I called the guy either.

I'm bummed to hear that. In that case I'd second Kirk's suggestion.

[sbolt19]

Can you splice a bronco (ford) connector into the centech harness and just use a regular bronco ignition switch?

I imagine I could, or any surface mounted ignition switch for that matter. I'm not real good on electrical, so bear with me and correct me where I am wrong while I think out loud, but one side of the switch is hot only when in the "on" position and that would be for your fuel pump and running required electronics. The other side, the aux side is for lights, radio, etc. and stuff, so in theory, I could put any flush mounted ignition in there. My problem is that #1 the weight of my keys is what is killing the switch, but I only have 3 keys and a key fob on there & #2 the quality of the switch is just junk. I'm open for any and all suggestions.

[ZOSO]

they make an adapter to adapt the factory switch to the harness. The issue we have with boogers centech is the ignition switch turns in the dash hole.

[sbolt19]

Yeah, I don't have my original switch. That went away 14 years ago when I did the rewire.

[Justin]

Mine retained the factory switch. The centech i bought came with the adapter, but that was only a couple of years ago

[Gunnibronco]

I'm still running the (probably) original ignition switch.

I'm hoping to get around to actually installing my Centech kit someday, and plan to keep my factory ignition switch.

Should I replace it with a new one? Do the originals fail often or are they prone to causing problems?

http://www.bcbroncos.com/store/product_ ... cts_id=556

Sorry to hi-jack.

[sbolt19]

No, I don't think the original is prone to failure, but the cheap ones that Centech supplies do. They are early to mid-70s Jeep ones and the whole switch is just a crappy design. The keys are nothing more than a pad lock key and there are only 4 tumblers in it, so in reality, they are somewhat simple to pick and start the vehicle, if you were so inclined. But the thing with these that gets me is that once they wear out, it causes other problems. Like last time I had this problem, the key didn't turn and engage a portion of the switch. On this one, it is doing the same thing but it isn't turning off a portion of the switch. In both cases I could pull the key out while the ignition and engine were still running. I'm lucky that you sent me a spare. All this is making me start to look into other options for ignition switches and I have thought about going to a push button ignition with a cut off hidden somewhere.

I wish I still had my original ignition because I would use it and the adapter, but c'est la vie!

[ZOSO]

60 bucks for new door cylinders and ignition.

[akaFrankCastle]

Lemme look around but I might have an original switch in a box somewhere. The other option I might go with would be a mid 70s Ford truck switch with the dual cut key. It's a little bit longer than the stock Bronco stuff so should provide a little more leverage if you are carrying a janitor key chain, which I don't recall you doing.

Wasn't it just last year, around this time, that you had the last problem? Or was that two years ago?

[sbolt19]

I think it was this time last year too Zac. That ignition didn't last long, did it.

I also figured out that last night I either stuck or fried my starter, so this turned out to be a helluva weekend for anything related to starting the old boy. I knew the ignition was going, but then the solenoid & relay took a crap at the same time and now the starter. I'm hoping that the bendix is just stuck and I can pull it off and it pops back down. crap just trickles down. It all boils down to that sloppy ignition switch and not giving/cutting power when the key is turned.

[RJLougee]

Gary, in reality, you might be overtaxing the Centech switch by running the fuel pump through the switch. I would recommend running a separate fuse panel for extra stuff (read: fuel pump, stereo, etc...) and only use the ignition switch to power the relay for it.

Centech does make an adapter to use the stock EB ignition switch, we used one when we installed the Centech harness in my Sons EB. You can make this adapter yourself.

I know I have a stock switch around here if you need one. Give me a buzz.
Joe

[sbolt19]

Funny you mention the additional fuse panel Joe, I thought about that on Friday while I was pulling the starter off, so I'm on your wavelength there.