fuel cut off switch (inertia switch)

**derekxec** · Jan 13 2006, 05:44pm

hey ive been having a prob with the intertia switch when i use it the front end shakes alot and someone told me "the solenoid is bad" does anyone know if this is true and where the solenoid would be?

***Ponyguy*** · Jan 13 2006, 06:20pm

We heard you the first time you posted, Derek...

How the heck do you "use the inertia switch"? That switch only functions when there's a collision or a hard whack to the vehicle, so the fuel pump shuts off and there's no fire hazard from spilled fuel.

**bforce** · Jan 13 2006, 06:26pm

Good job not answering his question...

ye sthe switch can get "weak" and be set off quite easily. I dont know where the solenoid is but I think its part of the switch. If im wrong someone will correct me. Also do wire check to make sure that its not rotted or anything else that might interfere with it.

**derekxec** · Jan 13 2006, 06:43pm

the first time my friend kicked it and set it off and the second time it got unplugged

ill check the voltage and such and if i cant figure it out ill just buy a new one (hopefully its not like $500 lol) and see if that works out

thanks alot

**tonon** · Jan 13 2006, 07:08pm

my plug was loose and a tryed everything. the plug ended up melting from corrosion resistance i guess. then i cut the plug back and put another end on it. the other day i had to wiggle the plug. it sucks

***Ponyguy*** · Jan 13 2006, 07:18pm

Posted by bforce

Good job not answering his question...

Frankly, I didn't really understand what his question was... I didn't know anyone who ever intentionally used the inertia switch.

On the Ranger, the inertia switch simply trips the fuel pump relay, which switches off the fuel pump. Before I'd blame the switch, I'd check to see if it's still mounted solidly to the body of the truck. If the mounting screws are a little loose, it might spontaneously trip off. When the fuel pump is shut off, the engine will, of course, shake and sputter a bit as it quits running.

What year is your Ranger, Derek? I have the factory wiring diagrams and shop manuals for the 2001 and up Rangers, and a few earlier models...

**derekxec** · Jan 13 2006, 07:53pm

i have a 99 and it doesnt trip by itself its happened 2 times and usually its from my friend kicking it hard like an idiot that trips it

its doesnt do it when its cutting off it does it when i push the button and restart the truck the engine runs fine its just the power steering pump whines and the wheels shake alot for about 2 or 3 hours after i start up

i was thinking some how the power steering gets air in it and makes it do that cause when it happens power steering fluid spills out of the little hole in the PS cap and when the shaking goes away nothing comes out of the hole anymore

it goes away and the truck works great after but its doing me over wondering why it does that lol

**bforce** · Jan 13 2006, 08:12pm

Posted by Ponyguy

Frankly, I didn't really understand what his question was... I didn't know anyone who ever intentionally used the inertia switch.

sorry man, just thought you were being a ****...my bad

**pinellas50** · Jan 13 2006, 11:06pm

Posted by derekxec

i have a 99 and it doesnt trip by itself its happened 2 times and usually its from my friend kicking it hard like an idiot that trips it

its doesnt do it when its cutting off it does it when i push the button and restart the truck the engine runs fine its just the power steering pump whines and the wheels shake alot for about 2 or 3 hours after i start up

i was thinking some how the power steering gets air in it and makes it do that cause when it happens power steering fluid spills out of the little hole in the PS cap and when the shaking goes away nothing comes out of the hole anymore

it goes away and the truck works great after but its doing me over wondering why it does that lol

Here is how you fix it. The next time your buddy kicks the switch and kills the truck. You in turn kick him in the snickers.

But seriously, it sounds like the inertia switch is working the way it is supposed to. It senses a jolt and shuts down the fuel system. It can't differentiate between a collision and your buddy's foot.

I can't say that I have ever heard of one of these switches going bad. Not that it can't happen of course. It shouldn't cost too much to get a new one if you really think you want to.

**dood** · Jan 16 2006, 06:55am

If you're driving along and the engine gets shut off by the intertia switch, and you steer the truck to the side of the road, you can cause problems with the power steering. The PS is not meant to be turned when the pump is not spinning. Doing so can force PS fluid into bad places... This could be the cause of your shaking...

**Needforspeed368** · Jan 16 2006, 08:26am

Posted by dood

If you're driving along and the engine gets shut off by the intertia switch, and you steer the truck to the side of the road, you can cause problems with the power steering. The PS is not meant to be turned when the pump is not spinning. Doing so can force PS fluid into bad places... This could be the cause of your shaking...

Very true, and very accurate. I pushed my truck with the engine off from my garage into the street one time, using the steering very briefly. This caused the worse case of the shimmy's I've ever felt from Power Steering the next time I started back up.

Anyway...back on topic, make sure the wire harness on the bottom of the switch is not corroded, loose, or have any frayed wires. I don't believe there is any solenoid related to the switch as like mentioned above it simply cuts power to the pump.

**derekxec** · Jan 16 2006, 10:20am

hmm i checked the wires and they look good and the plug looks good too but i think doods reply might be the prob cause it died right in the middle of the road and i didnt know there was a switch so we had pushed the truck around the corner and into a parking lot turning the wheel a couple times

also that makes sense because both times it cut off we pushed it and turned the wheel

would i have to get a new power steering pump to fix it? or would i need other stuff also?

**dood** · Jan 16 2006, 11:07am

So even after running it for awhile now, it's still shaking and shuddering? Or did it go away? You could've even pulled some air into the system while trying to steer. Also, check your fluid level. If it pushed some out, you may be low. I've also heard of people blowing hoses off by doing this stuff, but if your truck is still steering at all, this wouldn't be the issue I don't think.

**Needforspeed368** · Jan 16 2006, 02:52pm

Posted by derekxec

would i have to get a new power steering pump to fix it? or would i need other stuff also?

You definantly don't need to replace anything. It's simply air bubbles in the system, and although it can feel very uncontrollable and get worse over bumps, it will eventually work itself out. I got mine out by jacking the front end up and working the wheel back and forth for about 10 minutes. However if you just deal with it, it will go away in a short while.

The inertia switch has a button on top of it. Try depressing that button and see if it works.

**hotwheels1_1** · Jan 16 2006, 10:54pm

does the truck idle weird when u turn the wheels????

**4wheelinranger** · Jan 16 2006, 10:57pm

I have only had that switch trip once, but that was because I jumped my truck while me and my buddies were fourwheeling. I reset it and had no problems with it at all after that. Then a few weeks later I went in to the dealer to get my alignment done under warrenty and they said basically my whole front suspension was broken and that they had to replace it. Luckily they covered it all under warrenty.

**BigChaz** · Jan 17 2006, 06:22am

i still dont see how the switch would make his wheels shake for 2-3 hours?

as for the ps, if you dont feel like waiting it out, just go and get the system flushed which should solve the air and some of the whining

**dood** · Jan 17 2006, 06:38am

Chaz- the switch tripped, and he had to steer the truck without it running. This does bad things to the power steering, causing it to shake.

**Needforspeed368** · Jan 17 2006, 08:02am

Posted by dood

Chaz- the switch tripped, and he had to steer the truck without it running. This does bad things to the power steering, causing it to shake.

Wrong. It doesn't harm the power steering system to operate with no power. It just sucks air into the system, and it takes normal operation to work the air bubbles out of the lines, fluid cooler, and pump. These bubbles are what cause shaking and shimmying over bumps.

**dood** · Jan 17 2006, 08:19am

Posted by Needforspeed368

Wrong. It doesn't harm the power steering system to operate with no power. It just sucks air into the system, and it takes normal operation to work the air bubbles out of the lines, fluid cooler, and pump. These bubbles are what cause shaking and shimmying over bumps.

Well, shakes and shimmying are what I call "bad things"

**derekxec** · Jan 17 2006, 10:25am

yeah it goes away after a while and then everything is great...im not sure if it idles weird when i turn cause its shaking and thats pretty much all i can feel

"It just sucks air into the system, and it takes normal operation to work the air bubbles out of the lines, fluid cooler, and pump." <---i think that is whats happening cause the fluid that came out looks like its probably from air bubbles pushing it out

im gonna unplug the switch and replug it in and not turn the wheels or anything and see if it does it again

thanks for the replies guys its very much appriciated

**RangerRaider** · Jul 07 2006, 11:09am

Where is this switch located, and how to I reset it?

**sniper_101** · Jul 07 2006, 11:25am

Posted by RangerRaider

Where is this switch located, and how to I reset it?

If your's is like my 94' it's under the carpet against the firewall on the passenger side of the cab.

**BigChaz** · Jul 07 2006, 05:28pm

shouldnt need to reset it unless you tripped it somehow

You just press the button(think its a button) to get it working if it was tripped

and yea mines under the passanger side carpet also

fuel cut off switch (inertia switch)

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