totally dead, good batery and cables

[homer]

My 80 year old dads 94 PU, 55k, 5 spd, ran fine one day, then totally dead the next. Not even a click. Battery charged, cables clean. He replaced the ignition coil relay in black box on the fender well. No help.............................................. ..He found an old push button ignition switch in the garage with 2 long wires attached to it. He ran one to each side of ignition coil relay to bypass it. Now he turns on key, pushes button and 'off he goes' just like in the 40's. He's really happy as it didnt cost anything to (fix?) but I'd like to see him fix it right in case something else goes wrong down the road.................Any advice for something else to check, thanks.

[LoKl]

I dunno right off hand, but I suggest checking all the grounds (?). All I can really think of, because I doubt the switch is bad...
-LoKl

[Tercel GTS]

you replaced that relay yet?

[homer]

He replaced old relay with new one which still didnt start truck. He said his parts man friend told him he could take back 'new' relay if it didnt solve problem. Knowing my dad he took it back and still bypassed 'old ' relay. I helped him him hook it up. ...........................................Didnt make sense why bypassing old relay with remote starter button would start truck, yet installing a new one wouldnt...............I'll find out the 'latest' plan tomorrow. I'll help him snoop around some more. thanks

[texas12]

I had my '86 runner bypassed also with a starter switch. After reading various post about stripping back insulation on battery cables, cleaning and reinsulating, I decided to just replace both cables (very cheap at Walmart and no hassle). Have not had to use the starter switch in over a month! I sounded like a long shot to me but................

[homer]

Double checked his wiring today. Bypassed the starter relay by removing it and clipping remote starter button switch 'wires' directly to 2 of the pins where starter relay used to plug into. I told him I think the starter relay was there for a reason but he said "it works now". He just figures its something in the switch.