6.9 ignition problems
 

I have a 1984 ford f350 with the 6.9idi and a four speed manual transmission. I got the truck a couple days ago and am having a few issues with it. When I first went to get it, the guy had to jump it because it had bad batteries. I was looking the truck over while he did so and he got the jumper cables backwards on the secondary battery and it started smoking. I Still got the truck because it was only 500 dollars, and it started after we switched them. I put a new battery in it the next day and it started great that whole day then I noticed after that every timem I turned it off it drained the batterys. so I have got in the habit of running one battery and unhooking it when I park it. I got in it this morning to leave and it was bout 7 degrees outside hooked the battery back up and went to turn the key everything came on but when I went to start it nothing nt a click nothing everything shut off, now nothing comes on and theres a decent amount of play in the key? any suggestions on what the problem could be?

I would run a test on the batteries first to confirm they are good. Next, check your cables and clean all connections. Once had a battery that got a fine film of hydro oil on the battery terminals/connectors that prevented the battery from charging--had to clean often. Ignition could be the culprit, but I would rule everything else out first.

:argh:well two starter solenoids, an ignition switch and ignition actuator later it starts and runs like a champ