Going crazy....

[BubbaDuke]

I had posted earlier on having trouble starting my car.  I replaced many things now and still having problems.  I took it to a friends place that noticed when I turn the key I only get a spark right when the key is turned to start and when the key is released.  So the whole time im turning over the car I only get 2 sparks.  We jumped the starter and it fires right up.  My question is what could the problem be.  I replaced the ignition coil, and the ignition ballast resistor.  Is this a result of a bad ignition module, or maybe even the ignition switch, or maybe the starter relay.  Any ideas would be great.  We had a good summer here and it sucks not being able to ride.  Thanks

[Kern Dog]

I am a little fuzzy on the details, so I'll try this:
If you mean that you are having trouble when trying to start the engine from inside with the key......BUT you can get the engine to start if you cross the two terminals on the starter relay, then, YES, the relay is bad. The ignition switches are pretty reliable and I have only seen one fail in my years. The starter relays and ballast resistors seem to fail sooner and are often the problems.
HOWEVER.... If you mean that the spark plugs only spark at the instant the key first engages the "start" mode and then again as you release..... that makes things a little harder to pinpoint. THAT does sound like a ballast resistor issue.
This idea is a "cheat" but who cares! If you can find another similar car or truck that runs normally, try pulling parts from YOUR car and test them with the other vehicle. If each removeable part checks out, then theres something wrong in the wiring OR a loose connection/bad ground somewhere. I have been cursed with poor ground connections so many times and it really is frustrating.

[poppa]

What year is your car? When you turn on the igniton power goes through the ballast resistor,when you crank it over the ballast is "bypassed" for max juice. When you left the ignition return to run it goes through the ballast again. Sounds like the "bypass" wire is bad.This,I believe, all depends on the year.

[BubbaDuke]

Thanks for the reply, but a friend of mine and I finally figured it out.  After replacing several parts all it was was a loose wire on the ignition switch.  Man I feel dumb now, but that is kind of the fun of having an old car.  Thanks again....

5 months of having the car out and not being able to drive it.  I have a lot of mileage to make up...