Ignition Switch Left On

1

1947 lurch

Junior Member
I left my ignition switch on overnight on my 1947 Ford. With a charged battery it will not start.My car was starting great before my brain fart-all new 1/0 cables, good ground connections, a new rebuilt starter,and a rebuilt Skip Haney coil. Any suggestions on where I start first to find my starting problem.
 
When you say "it will not start" what do you mean? The starter won't even turn over? Or, it cranks OK but the engine won't run?
 
Check the coil first. Usually the coil windings will cook, short out and sometimes burn open when the ignition switch is left on for that long.
 
Check to see if you have voltage at the coil, a test light --even just a bulb with wires, it should light when attached to the side of the coil that hooks to the harness --if not check the resistor under the dash.

Then hook to the side of the coil that goes to the dist --crank the engine, if light stays on the points or wire have a problem, if it blinks the points are working, if it doesn't light the coil is probably bad, if it blinks and still no spark the condenser ,or coil is bad ---leaving the key on usually damages the coil, and the condenser doesn't usually care if the power is on or off ---or if you leave the key on --
 
IMHO, another example of the benefits of installing--and using--a simple battery cutoff switch on one of the terminals.
 
4dFord/SC said:
IMHO, another example of the benefits of installing--and using--a simple battery cutoff switch on one of the terminals.
Click to expand...

Great idea, but if one can't remember to turn off the key, how does one remember to turn off the cutoff switch?
 
My bet is burnt points; they will burn if closed, but not if open. Good time to install a pertronix ignition, no chance of failure if the switch is left on.
 
Mike51Merc said:
Great idea, but if one can't remember to turn off the key, how does one remember to turn off the cutoff switch?
Click to expand...

Guess it's a matter of routine. Just like always buckling the seat belt when getting in, I turn the green knob off whenever I leave the car.
 
Lanny got it; file, replace, regap the points. If there is still no spark, the coil is probably melted.
 
I did this on a Buick years ago - there's no "ignition" light on the dash. It did run afterwards, but the coil was damaged - it leaked the oil and overheated.
I rigged it up so there was a red "generator" or ignition light on the dash. I set Old Rusty up the same. Less likely to leave it on if there is a red light showing.
Mart.
 
I left my switch on once and it burned the points,after that I installed a electronic ignition,best improvement i made on the flathead
 
Bob/Ohio said:
All depends on if the points we open or closed when you last shut it off!
Bob
Click to expand...

If the points were open and the key was left on, nothing will happen. There is no current going thru the coil when the points are open.

In High School, I had a '31 Chevy and, like the Model As, it also had a "pop-out" style ignition switch. One day, while going down the road, the key came out and fell down thru the hole around the emergency brake handle and down on the road. I never found it. After that, for the next several weeks, when I would want to turn it off, I would carefully push The ign switch in, just enough to break the connection but not enough to cause the switch to lock. I would then "bump" the starter and watch the ammeter. When the ammeter read zero, I knew the points were open. The car could sit like this and the battery would not run down because there was no current going thru the coil. I did this for several weeks until I had a little extra money and could pay a lock smith to make a new key.

My experience,

Chris
 
don't be so sure of that Fred, I've cooked 3 coils so far, can't remember to turn the lights off or lock the door,or why I went to the garage in the first place.
 
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