More O/T help needed - Ignition switch wiring

[Machinos]

I finally got to pick up my motorhome this morning, and it ran and started fine and everything. Well, after I parked it at home, I wanted to move it a bit, but when I went to start it up I didn't get even a click from the starter. Went and got a replacement switch since the connector on the back of the stock one was in bad shape, and put new connectors on the end of the wires.

The problem I'm having is that I can get it to start and run, but as soon as I let go of the key, it kills. I've been trying various combinations of wires for like 2 hours now and can't seem to get it.

The switch has these poles on it: Starter, Battery, Ignition, Accessory.

I have these wires hooked up: Starter wire to Starter pole, Battery wire to Battery pole, Ignition wire to Ignition pole. There's wire that I identified as operating the heater motor and probably other stuff (heater's just easy to tell since it blows when I give it power), and another wire which was the same color and gauge as the battery wire that I'm clueless about.

[DrJ]

You left the light on in the toilet closet didn't you?
Charge the battery, then search out the problem.

[DrJ]

Check the starter solenoid?

[Machinos]

It starts and runs just fine, but when I let go of the key (it's a "turn it all the way to the right to crank, let go to stop cranking" type thing) it kills the ignition. The battery's good and everything.

[desertratrodder]

Sounds like you dont have power to the coil.. hooked up to the run position on the switch..
If you have an ohm meter, stick one end on the coil side of the wire, and start touching ends of the wire at the switch.(disconnect them from the switch) When you have continuity..youve found the right wire, put it where it goes...

[DrJ]

You have two ignition wires going to the coil (on most systems). One is from the solenoid so the coil gets full voltage from the battery for more spark to fire. when you release the key to the "run position there is another hot-when-on wire going thru a voltage drop to the coil because the full 14.5 volts of a 12 volt system is hard on points etc. I suspect that wire isn't working or the balast resistor in it is bad. Check continuityof that ign, to coil wiring

Yea, like he said... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Machinos]

whew, I got it. I traced the wires and it turned out that I didn't have a bad wire, but I had gotten the "red" and "pinkish-red" wires mixed up. Bah. Thanks a ton for the help, guys!