Steering Column Repair: changed steering column and no truck wont start, starter solenoid, brown wires

Question
hello,
  I have a 1983 Chevrolet K-10 with a manual transmission. I recently changed the steering column in it and now it wont start, turn the key and i get absolutely nothing. All my gauges light up and we tested all the wires for power. I have changed the starter and solenoid as well as both neg. and pos. battery cables to no avail. the column i put in worked perfect when it was in the other truck. I am running out of ideas, please help.
thankyou, Jake

Answer
Hi Jake:

It sounds like one of two things happened.  You need to check these items with a test light.  all of the red and orange wires should be hit all the time.  the pink and brown wires shoudl be hot when the key is turned to the 'on' position.  The purple wire coming out of the ignition switch plug should get hot when you hit 'start' with the the key.  If all of those are correct then go to the next step.  If not, then the problem is in the ignition switch or the connectors in the plug going to it.

Yo may have bumped the clutch switch on the pedal.  this is where the current goes to from the column before it goes to the starter.  this ensures the clutch is engaged and you don;t start your truck in gear and take off.  Once again, check both sides with a test light.  It should get hot on one side when the key is turned to 'start' and then the other side should light up when you depress the clutch and hit 'start'.

If all of that happens, then yo need to go to the starter solenoid and check the small purple wire.  That's the end of the 'start' engage wire and it should get hot when you hit 'start' with the key

It has to be one of these things.  That's the power circuit form beginning to end.

Good luck
Let me know what it was...my money is on the clutch switch or connector.  I think it got disconnected by accident when you installed the column.

Doug