1985 Chevy Truck Ignition Switch Problems [4 Easy Solutions]  

Loose mounting screws, electrical issues, and faulty ignition switch are the culprits responsible for the 1985 Chevy truck ignition switch problems. 

Besides, a bad starter relay and a defective starter are other caveats that are related to the ignition switch issues. If these two components go bad, the ignition switch doesn’t work properly and you will fail to start the car. 

And this automotive troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose the ignition switch problems. So, read on till the end of this article. 

How Do You Know If The Ignition Switch Is Faulty

Before illustrating the reasons behind a faulty ignition switch, we will describe the signs of a defective ignition switch. By noticing them, you can detect when the ignition switch of your chevy needs your attention before it’s going too late. 

Here is the list of day-to-day signs that indicate there is an issue with the chevy ignition switch: 

• You will fail to start your chevy as the faulty ignition switch won’t provide the power to your starter motor and the ignition system. 
• You will experience a stall when driving because of the bad ignition switch. 
• Your car interior lights and dashboard lights may turn off if the ignition switch is at fault.
• The key will get stuck into the keyhole, and you can’t turn it to the start position due to a bad ignition switch. 
• You will hear no sound from the starter motor when you turn the key. 

1985 Chevy Truck Ignition Switch Problems [4 Easy Solutions]

In this chapter, we will disclose the culprits responsible for ignition switch issues. 

01. Loose Mounting Screws

Every car, whether it comes from GM or other brands, has an ignition switch that is attached to the steering column with mounting screws. If the mounting screws are not that loose or too loose, the switch will come out of adjustment. 

Consequently, it will make a poor connection and fail to send the power to the ignition system when turning the ignition switch to the On position. In other words, you can’t start your car. 

Solution:

Readjusting the switch will be a simple solution to this problem. The procedure for adjusting the ignition switch will be different based on the type of ignition switch you have. 

If the ignition switch is down on the steering column, follow the below steps: 

• Tilt or move the wheel down so that it doesn’t crank.
• Loosen the mounting screws that hold the ignition switch to the steering column and move the switch one way or the other way until it clicks or cranks. 
• Ensure you adjust the switch closer to the steering wheel as most push rods propel the switch down to start or crank the engine. 

On the other hand, you must follow the below steps if the ignition switch is in the column. 

• Remove the steering wheel assembly 
• Feed new wires through the connector under the dashboard. If you have a new harness, you can feed it down from the above once you remove the steering wheel. 
• If you have an older car, use the old wires to pull new wires up and solder the wiring. Afterward, seal the connection using the heat-shrink tubing. 

02. Bad Starter Relay

A starter relay supplies small electrical power to the starter solenoid. Then, the solenoid draws a large amount of current from the battery directly. It activates the solenoid and provides power to the starter motor, which starts your car. 

If the starter relay is bad, the starter motor will not get the power it needs to start the engine, no matter how many times you turn the ignition key. 

Solution:

Start with testing the starter relay. Its resistance should be less than 1 Ohm. If the resistance goes above this, the starter relay won’t work. If you don’t know how to test the starter relay, check the following tutorial.  

03. Starter Itself Goes Bad

The starter is a small electrical motor that gets power from the battery and starts your car. Generally, a starter relay is sandwiched between the battery and the starter motor.

Without a functional starter relay and motor, you will never turn your car engine, no matter how much time you turn the ignition key to the on position. 

The following reasons cause the starter to go bad: 

• The wiring leading to the starter gets loosened. 
• Poor electrical connection
• Defective relay
• Corroded battery

Solution:

It’s advisable to start by inspecting the wires leading to the starter. If it gets loosened, you should tighten it up. Otherwise, you need to clean the wiring if it’s dirty. 

Secondly, ensure there is sufficient charge in your car battery or it doesn’t get corroded. And then, check the relay and make sure it’s okay. 

Now, turn the ignition key to see if the car cranks or not. If not, we bet the starter motor goes bad. In this case, you need to replace it. 

Otherwise, you can’t turn the engine, no matter how perfectly the ignition switch works. Check out the below tutorial to learn how to replace the starter. 

04. Ignition Switch Gets Faulty

Your Chevy should have a proper functional ignition switch to start the car. If it is at fault, you won’t start your car. The following signs will help you determine a defective ignition switch: 

• The car won’t start.
• An anti-theft fault
• Worn-out or damaged switch contacts
• Broken springs
• Temperature problem

Solution:

As soon as you observe the above-mentioned signs, replace the ignition switch immediately. We recommend you see the below tutorial to learn how to change an ignition switch on Chevy. 

How To Test A Chevy Ignition Switch

Here is the step-by-step process you should follow to test the Chevy ignition switch: 

• Remove the cover located under the steering column to access the ignition switch. Regarding this, remove the screws that hold the cover in place. 
• Once you remove all the screws, pull the cover down gently to release it. There is no need to take the cover completely off.
• Ensure you leave the emergency brake attached. 
• Remove the steering wheel tilt lever by pulling it away from the steering column. 
• Afterward, remove the screws that fasten the lower steering column cover. Pull the cover down gently, remove it from the vehicle, and set it aside. 
• Now, pull out the ignition switch cover and turn the ignition switch on. 
• Use a test light to test for the power being sent to the circuit to the vehicle. In this particular truck, the circuit related to the transmission is the white wire.
• Next, use a jumper fuse wire to transfer current from the red wire to the white wire. 
• And then, start the truck and all the gauges will work if the ignition switch is in good condition. 

Conclusion

If the ignition switch gets defective, you can’t start your Chevy. So, you must address the reasons that cause ignition problems.

Fortunately, we revealed every caveat responsible for a faulty ignition switch. We also described how you can overcome those issues. Also, we broke down how you can replace the ignition switch. So, follow every troubleshooting step we mentioned to solve the ignition switch issues.