ignition switch

So I've pretty much narrowed the problem down to the ignition switch, thanks to everyone here. My next question is how difficult is this to replace? My steering column is already taken apart, and I can clearly see the electrical switch, but the wires connected to it run down the steering column to where?

one screw on ignition follow the wires 2 plugs and your done..

The ignition switch plugs are directly behind the instrument cluster. Its not hard to remove the cluster. After you've got the screws out, be sure to unclip the speedo cable from inside the engine compartment and push the slack in towards the inside of the cab. Then you'll be able to reach behind the cluster and unclip it.

I replaced mine about 16 years ago, found it a bit of a hassle to unclip the harnesses under the dash, felt then that Mazda should've made the chassis harnesses a few inches longer. Now Orange comes along (below) and tells me that the easy way would be to remove the instrument cluster first. D'oh !!! Great idea though !!!

The two electrical portions that I removed at the parts yard (as potential spares for mine) were not as troublesome to remove - because I just cut the wires on the truck side !!!

Thanks guys... I found one on rockauto for $86 plus a few for shipping so I got to order that and we'll wait on it to get here... when I get back out to the garage I'll take some pics and show y'all what I'm tryin to bring to life...

I needed to get two tiny "push nuts" at Ace Hardware, were not included, think they're for the little ignition buzzer part.

Yeah, sometimes you can get the originals off but you've got to work them off real slowly with a pick tool, going back and forth until they come off.