1992 Ford Ranger

What if you gently move the key around while its running will it die?

nope

the problem seemed to get worse like it just didnt happen it would happen once in a while an now the only way i can drive it is to have my hand on the key all the time an wen it dies i just turn it off an then back on

Could.be a bad ignition switch or another issue.Do you have any codes?

No that sounds like a bad ignition switch.

meaning the part that i put the key in or the electrical thing thats down on the column that the rod goes into from the keyed part

Your going to.have to look and see if its the switch or linkage.

what i meant was is it the key tumbler thing or is it the electronic switch thing that the rod goes into that is mounted on the col8umn

Your going to have see which it is I can't tell because I can't see what's going.on
I would suspect the switch.

i went and bought the electronic switch and that didnt help it does the same thing was testing it with the electronic part just hanging there using a screw driver dont really know if the key part of the ignition could cause it to do that or not but one thing with in the last month ive been able to start my truck without the keys in it just by turning the little levers they have that u put the keys into i just dont know what to think

Sounds like the ignition lock cylinder is worn out if it starts without the key in ignition.That may may allow it to move while driving to shut it off.Like i said i dont have all the facts to tell what it was.

does the only thing the lock cylynder control is the rod going down or does it control other weires as well

The switch and the steering wheel lock.

do you have any idea what else it could be then

The lock cylinder is hooked to linkage to the switch so my guess is the cylinder is sloppy enough to allow enough movement while driving for it.to.shut off.But like I said this is a tricky one because iam not there to see what's actually happening.

thats not it another thing its doing is backfiring sometimes i dont think its the tim9ing because it runs great when its running i found a vacuum line that was leaking an after i fixed that it seemed to not stall out nearly as much

So now its not shutting off unless you hold the key?