1979 Mustang 5.0 won't start

1979 FORD MUSTANG
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ROOTBOUND
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I have a 1979 Mustang 5.0, automatic, current engine (not the original, but similar with a cam) has about 16,000 miles on it. I drove it about 100 miles without incident, parked the car in my driveway and the next day it would not start. When you turn the key, absolutely nothing happens (no click like a dead battery, no "whirr" like a bad starter, just dead silence).

The battery is fully charged, we replaced the starter relay and the battery cables. Lights, etc all work, and the car will start if you run a "jump wire" from the battery to the starter, so the starter doesn't appear to be the issue either. We also checked the ignition switch assembly box -- everything there appears to be properly connected.

I can't find anything in the Chiltons that's been too helpful (this book is pathetically organized)...Things seem to be functional based upon the fact that we could get the car to start and continue to run, but the key in the ignition switch doesn't appear to be getting the message that it's time to START..

Any suggestions as to what else to check?
May 9, 2007 at 9:35 PM
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ROOTBOUND
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[quote:665def6e11="justanold"]HELLO! This shouldn't be too hard to track down. when you turn your key to ON position..do your idiot lights come on? when you turn it to the START pos. ..do they go out? do you have an aftermarket anti-theft system? while holding it in the START pos. move your shift lever from PARK to LOW..any joy? at the safety neutral switch..while still connected..test for power at the red/blue wires (both) while in START pos. follow the wiring out to the starter relay reconnecting as needed. please get back to us so that all may learn.[/quote:665def6e11]

Thanks for your response. First, there is no after-market anti-theft device connected to this car--it's so nasty nobody wants to ride in it, let alone steal it.

When I turned the key to the on position, the idiot lights came on. When I turned it to the start position they went off.

While holding the key in the start position, I moved the shifter to low and nothing happened.

Thus far, I've been able to follow the directions but neither my husband nor I have been able to find the right diagram in the Chilton's to show us the location of the safety neutral switch. I know this has something to do with the transmission (to keep the car from starting while in gear I presume) but can't locate it so haven't been able to run the final check.

Anyone got a map????
May 10, 2007 at 2:37 PM
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ROOTBOUND
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[quote:c8455259c3="justanold"]HELLO! I should have one by fri. or sat. if you can wait. you will find it on the driver side of your trans with about 6 wires at the connection point. this will be the only wires going to your trans as i recall. get back to us. 8) 8) 8)[/quote:c8455259c3]

We'll wait until Friday but my question is, once we find it, if the wires are all connected correctly and it still doesn't "fire up", are we looking at replacing this part? If so, is this going to involve pulling the tranny or some major labor we shouldn't be trying at home?
May 10, 2007 at 5:11 PM
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MERLIN2021
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Give em hell arnie!
May 10, 2007 at 7:17 PM
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