Mysterious Problem

Hey what's up guys? I have come across a mysterious problem after I, like a dumbass, hooked the battery backwards...

I just got done putting the motor back in after I pulled it to do a timing, water pump, front crank seal, clutch and flywheel. Hooked up the battery wrong and now its acting weird. If the key is in the OFF position and I turn it to START the truck will start and die, with the key still in the RUN position I turn it to START and it just turns over. If I then turn the key all the way to OFF then back to START the truck will start and die.

Now it has started and ran about 3 different times but only for about 30 seconds a session. I was hoping it was just bad gas but I drained my tank and refilled it with new fuel and still my problem persists.

There are a few vacuum lines caped off by the previous owner, but with the switch acting funny I tend to think this is more of an electrical problem rather than a vacuum problem. Anybody have any ideas of what could be causing this mysterious electrical problem?

Can we get more truck info? Year, model, carb, efi... etc. If it's carb then no, hooking it up backwards wont hurt anything. Efi, it could BUT I highly doubt it. Sounds like the timing is off or distributor is off. Check all timing related issues. Go from there.

My fault I didn't even think about all that.


1993 Mazda B2200 2.2 Carbureted 5-speed

There is no relays or anything within the ignition wiring that may messed up? The way the key is acting doesn't sound like timing to me. You shouldn't have to turn the key all the way off every time you try to crank your truck.

Strange yes.Ok based on your symptoms it could be your ignition (key part) that could have taken a blow from the mistake.Just give us the year and model b2000,b2200 or b2600 that helps.I do not want to make suggestions to be way wrong.Update this so any who make recommends give better ideas to what is happening.Ok I am sure with the vast experience of owners here we can help for sure!

That's true. Try this... Turn key off and on 5 times and then try to start. This should not fix it because it's not an in tank fuel pump but I am curious. When turning it over, hold the accelerator to the floor and see if it starts. Let off if it does lol. Is the carb stock or aftermarket?

Truck info added on 3rd post.
I sure hope it isn't the ignition switch, I just changed it about 5 months ago when the old one crapped out on me. They are quite pricey as I am sure some of you are aware.

I did notice with the throttle wide open it would try and start more on the first key turn, but still wouldn't try and fire again until I turned the key all the way off.

stock carb

If it starts, then dies when you move the key position to "run", could be electrical part of the ignition switch. Get it to this non-run condition, leave it there: then test for positive voltage at the coil positive side. Cycle, test this several times.

Then run a jumper wire from the battery positive (better if it contains an inline fuse, say 10 amp or more) to the coil positive side, and then see if it starts and stays running.

If so, bad ignition switch electrical. Remember, there are multiple connections/contacts in the "run" position, so other stuff might be working but not your "run" circuit.

I have voltage at the coil with the key in the run position. I also tried the jumper wire from the battery to the coil and a couple relays clicked when I made contact but didn't help with the starting.

Its gotta be something in the RUN circuit. I may just try and wire up the motor eliminating the ignition switch all together and see if I cant get her to run. Then at least ill know for sure where my problem is.

I have the same problem but after the 2nd or 3rd time it wont turn over anymore like it's killing the battery. its an 87 mazda b2200 5 speed