How do you check an ignition switch to see if its bad or not??

You could check continuity with an ohmmeter between the terminals in the different key positions

How about a test light grounded to column and doing checking the positions?? I have a feeling that power is not going thru the switch.

yes that'd work. What circuit are you having a problem with?

The starting circuit, I thought is was the netural safety but its not. I turn to aux just before the start and the fuel pump is on then go to start and it seems to lose power. I am dumbfounded its killing me.

It will not crank? If not see if the yellow "ign" wire out to the starter solenoid is hot while someone holds the key to start. If not, seperate the bulkhead & see if there's a bad connection on that circuit on those 2 male/female brass terminals. (www.mymopar.com has the colors/locations). If the bulkhead is good then see if the "st" terminal on the back of the ign switch is hot when you hold it to start. If the switch is in the column seperate the dangling connector & see if the start wire going out to the starter relay has continuity with the 12V power in wire when the key is held to start.

Check your ballast resistor on the firewall

ballast has nothing to do with the starter turning the engine over.

its weird because in november when I pulled the motor and trans everyrhing was fine, I can start the car with a screwdriver on the starter re-lay. it has to be something stupid. thanks for the info. I will try it and keep you guys posted.

Try holding the key in the start position and move the shifter from park to neutral and see what happens. You may just have a linkage adjustment problem.