I just bought this old truck. '93 Silverado, 5.7, 2WD, 200k or so.

Once in a while when you turned the key, it would not start. Had to jiggle it a bit, turn back to acc, eventually it would relent and start. When working, you turn the key and it starts immediately, no long cranking or hesitation.

Now it's gone out altogether - it clicks, lights up, but no ignition at all. Battery checks good, starter is good. It will not start in neutral, so I'm thinking it's not the neutral safety switch. Change the ignition switch? Any other ideas?

Thanks ~

 

Update.

Battery is good. Starter is good. I replaced the neutral safety switch. Also replaced the ignition lock as it was worn. Cleaned the grounds.

No joy. Turn the key, click, lights come on. Nothing else happens.

In looking at parts I see an ignition switch, which is also a cheap part, $15 or so. I might try that, but that's the end of throwing parts at it.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, as I'm getting close to paying a mechanic.

 

Did you check the starter solenoid?

 

It has a new starter, and I think that the solenoid was included in it as a unit. Am I wrong?

The neutral safety switch is not identical to the old one. It has two two-pin plugs plus one additional single pin that there is nothing to plug into. I took both back by the auto parts and they looked up the number on the old unit and the one I bought is listed as the direct replacement. I was planning to swap the old one back through to see if anything different happened.

Other than that all I see is the ignition switch. I replaced the ignition lock as it was worn and a bit wobbly. Once I get beyond that, parts start to get to ignition modules and other expensive bits. I'm sorta ok about a couple of parts under $20, but throwing more $70-80 parts at it is a non-starter.