Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Mazda bravo B2500, Ford courier ignition switch repair

Today I repaired the ignition switch out of my Mazda Bravo B2500 / ford courier. When I turned the key to engage the starting motor, nothing would happen sometimes it would take ten to fifteen turns of the key to start the car. 

 This job took me around three hours to complete, after I finished the starter motor never fails to energize.

The first thing to do is to take the plastic cover off the control column.  you do this by taking the key out of the ignition switch and removing three screws, they are clipped together so you will need to pry them apart with a flat screwdriver


Pull the cables out by pressing the clip and then wiggle it as you are pulling, these can be difficult sometimes if you can not push the clip in all the way.  After the cables are out of the way then start undoing the screw with a small phillips head screwdriver.  The switch component should almost fall out.


Dismantle by releasing one of the three clips on the black body out of the white cup, there is two clips on one side and one on the other.  Release the clip on the side that only has one first with the flat screwdriver and the switch should come apart easily.

Caution

there is two balls and seven springs in this switch, lose any one of them and your buggered

I cleaned the parts with dish soap, a tooth brush and a green green scouring pad under running tap.  Use the green scouring pad to make the copper contacts shiny.  Then pop it all in a sunny spot to dry or cheat with an oven at around 50'C for half an hour

Grab a drill with a small drill bit and clean the spot where the switch has been burning, be careful though, you don't want a big hole.

You may notice the location tab on the large contact ring has solder on it, this was a test run to see how well the solder would stick to the copper.

Use a gas torch to heat the contact rings just enough to melt the solder, and touch them with the solder where the holes are, try not to use to much solder as you will need to file the excess away later
 


Start to file away the excess solder, take your time with this step as you don't want to go to far and file the copper away






LOOKING GOOD



Now the messy part GREASE...
lightly coat all parts with grease and put some in the spring holes to hold the springs in place while you are rebuilding the switch, also put a good amount of grease in the holes that hold the balls to assist reassembly
(to hold your balls in place) 


One of my balls stuck to the grease


coming together







Reassemble and fit back in the car



Done

THE TOOLS

Gas torch
Rag/Cloth
Battery drill
Round and flat file
Phillips screwdriver
Flat screwdriver
Soldering iron
Solder
Solder wick
Thumb driver
Cotton bud stick
Glasses
Bearing Grease



Thanks for reading my post.
Please let me know if this Worked for you 

James

13 comments:

  1. Thanks James. I had exactly this problem in my Ford Courier. Now it's working good as new.

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  2. I have just bought a new ignition switch, barrel so it shouldn't be too hard to just fit it in? I also am replacing the door locks as well.

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  3. Im about to do the same thing. Ws it easy to do. Anything I ahould look out for?
    Thanks in advance.

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    Replies
    1. Just watch ya springs and balls. And take note of how it came apart

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  4. Thx bud ya champion .job done like a new one

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    Replies
    1. Mine is still working fine, never been a problem since I repaired it almost three years ago

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    2. Have the same problem.I will try it.Thanks.

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  5. Thanks James... I had the same problem and followed your instructions. Only I used an electric slodering iron to fill the one hole I had in the big ring. Hopefully the solder stays in. But at least I know what to do if it falls out. But so far its working just fine. Hardest bit was getting the elect. plugs out and a screw driver short enough to get out that screw. Fortunately it was not too tight. Cheers again. R

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  6. I've got the same
    Problem would it be better to just place the switch or will that cause
    Problems?

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  7. Genius!! Made my 2002 Mazda Bravo B2500 work like new again, no more cursing...Great post!

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  8. Great tip for the same problem here.
    Done....
    So many thanks

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