84 720 starter or ignition problems?

[northoak]

Truck is 1984 720 5 speed with a z24 that is doing a few odd things.  The main problem is that it either doesn't turn over at all when I go to start it or it fires right up.  It always starts by the fifth try, sometimes on the first.  It doesn't sound like a weak battery or charging issue to me because I either get nothing or it starts up great.

 

Second the temp and fuel gauges sporadically stop working.  On long trips it will sometimes be an hour or two before they come on.  Most of the time they work fine.  I haven't been able to find any loose connections back there.

 

Third, at times my truck idles fine, at other times it likes to die when in neutral or when the clutch is in.

 

I've changed my plugs, wires, distributor cap/rotor, coils, and cleaned the contacts to my battery and starter solenoid but these problems persist. 

 

I'm considering installing a "Hot Start" relay that other folks have posted about http://community.ratsun.net/topic/102-hot-start-relay/

 

The fact that I don't seem to get power to my gauges sometimes makes me wonder if my issues are rooted in my ignition switch rather than my starter wiring?  Is there a post on trouble shooting the ignition switch someone could link me too that I could not find?  Any suggestions before I dive into hooking up a hot start relay are appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

Nick in Oakland, CA

[northoak]

ps sorry for the multiple posts, did it by mistake due to a bad wifi connection.  mods please delete the other two when you get a chance.

[Toxicrain]

when you turn the key is there just nothing from the starter? Check for loose cable at starter and replace the ignition switch would be the first steps. you could always hook up a push start button for it and bypass.

[Doctor510]

The hot start relay is a super cure.

[northoak]

Toxicrain: Cables are tight and contact is clean.  Sometimes I get one little click, other times it just turns over and starts fine.  Would a push start button be a momentary switch that goes between the positive of the bat and the positive of the starter solenoid?

[banzai510(hainz)]

ck the connections and key connection behind the key switch also.

Ck to make sure the batter cable end is not cracked. I over tighen one and it cracked the lead ring to make it get a weak connection.

 

if a this fail its a low voltage issue in the key switch circuit . To test this fine a wire and say 14/12ga and put the wire at the starter post that's the 12volts and put the selinoid tab. If its cranks consestantly the starter is fine. One puts in a relay from the battery to the old starter wire to relay to trip the higher current circuit to the starter

[northoak]

Did a little messing around behind the ignition and all the wiring seems ok but there is some play between the black plastic part of my ignition switch and the metal that screws into the lock cylinder.  I also found that if I bypass my ignition switch by jumping my starter with the battery it turns every time.  Going to go ahead and replace this switch but I'm not entirely confident that its the problem.

[Charlie69]

The ignition switch is cheap at Rock auto.

 

Here is a link to NAPA.

 

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHKS6675