I have a 1983 Dodge D150 automatic-318 motor. Question, when I disconnected my radio (removed red wire (power) orange wire and ground wire-from that point on I have no power to the ignition key. My h

Turn signals and wipers are on ingnition switch head interior and tail are on headline switch

whole electrical is dead I have power to NOTHING turn key nothing no electrical power to anything that requires electric power. BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED HELP

I’m working on the same issues w/ an ‘89 D150, 5.2 318. Someone before me McGiver’d the thing to keep it going ... I noticed that since a freeze plug popped out in early winter it has been a cascade of issues one after another, plug/block heater, to the radiator and water pump, bypassed and removed the power steering, transmission overheating and going out of gear, knocking sound, and now a loss of power to the ignition and starter. I checked the engine for seizing by rotating the crankshaft and it’s a bit sticky in one place but doesn’t seem to be an issue. Maybe the root to the power problem is _______?? My most recent check was to pull the starter, hook it up to the battery and use a screwdriver to bridge power to the ignition post- the starter popped out and spun easily. No problemo. The issue is power moving through the ignition system. If your ignition is as worn as mine it doesn’t really matter if the key is in the ignition to turn it, the key can be removed once the ignition has been turned on, the door buzzers sometimes work or not, the stereo only worked once since I got the thing, etc. I’m guess that’s a sign some things are shot especially now that the electrical is shorting/grounding somewhere. The two items I want to check are the ignition switch in the steering column and the neutral switch on the transmission. Since the most recent issue was the over heating transmission (no fluid, leaky) I wouldn’t be surprised the neutral switch suffered melting/corrosion. The fishy part is that similar to Jimmy’s electrical, now nothing has power. No headlights, instrument lights, the interior light, buzzer, which indicates .... Indicates that something is wrong. It doesn’t make sense to lose power because of a fault in either of those switches unless they developed a short and grounded out. I’veI checked the starter relay for resistance it’s the middle one of three above the wiring harness on the driver’s side. That relay appears to have been replaced recently and it tested fine with the multimeter. Unless there is some kind of master relay which governs all power to the cab, lights, or ignition there aren’t many more options. I have read that a ballast resistor has some role in the ignition functions but haven’t located or tested it. Anyone notice a missing link?

To DM, I am having multiple electrical issues from things breaking to things corroding. A couple of weeks ago I had to replace the ballast resistor (1982 d150) and I don't know what year they stopped using them but I think on your truck it is a block of white to offwhite porcelain with 4 metal prongs (could be just 2 like mine) bolted directly to the driver side firewall, leads connected to the prongs. Generally if these go bad, they burn up like a light bulb and fail completely. You will be able to start your engine but it will die in the run position. I bypassed mine to go to the parts store, just jumpered the leads, but I don't think it is the ballast resistor if your truck runs. My current problem is extremely confusing. I lost various taillight functions. I replace the flasher switch and relays, then they would blink even off, I removed one of the relays and now they only blink when they are on. My brakelights work, but when I turn on the headlights, nothing back there works and the blinkers don't work at all. I removed the bulbs for a while with both relays in and during that time my taglight worked and since my reverse sockets had been gone for sometime I replaced all four sockets. Didn't make a difference, I replaced both ground straps and I have not found a faulty wire or ground on the undercarriage, but I have made two discoveries: One, when my headlights are on I can pull the hazard switch on and the taillights come on, sometimes they blink but opposite how they should and mostly just stay on, still have no brake lights with headlights. Two, there some mysterious four pronged relay all alone hanging under the ashtray and what not, I removed just to see if it was corroded or anything, no idea what it is for, but with it out i turned on the head lights and the taillights were blinking, but that didn't happen again and I have lost instrument lights (probably just shorted something digging around where I could barely see and burnt a fuse). If anybody has any foggy inkling, please let me know, I've reached the point where I am ready to either start completely rewiring it or light a puddle of gasoline under it.