Starting Problem

[acr-man]

Hoping someone has encountered this before. Intermitantly I will turn ignition switch from run position to start position and truck starts and then dies within a few seconds after starting. Returning the ignition switch back to start position causes the starter motor to run however, truck won't start and the starter motor continues to run with when ignition switch is returned back to run position. Turning ignition switch to off position stops starter motor.

Returning switch to off position each attempt after the first malfunction prevents starter from continuing to run but stopping at the run position and attempting to start again in start position puts the starter motor in the runaway mode until ignition switch is turned to off.

Usually takes 3 - 5 attempts going to off position, then to start before motor starts. Then it might not do this for two weeks. Yesterday it did it and it did not work after 10 attempts. Truck had been running and all was warmed up when it failed after I came home and then went to leave 15 minutes later. I walked away and let it all cool down for hours. Tried it again and on the second attempt, it started up.

I know I need to get this figured out and fixed because it's getting worse. I just don't want to take it into a dealership that is 45 miles away and have them tell me, "Can't fix it if it ain't broke." I am a service technition of Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and heating (ACR) so I know about intermitant electrical problems. My non-professional hunch is to suspect the ignition switch.

Has anyone else encountered this issue before?