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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Leaving ignition on

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Leaving ignition on -- page: 1 2     bo8109b 04-04-2010 @ 10:34 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 179 Joined: Nov 2009 What are the consequences of leaving the ignition key turned on overnight in a '48 Ford other than running down the battery? jerry.grayson 04-04-2010 @ 10:54 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 128 Joined: Oct 2009 If the points are closed it could melt the coil. 37RAGTOPMAN 04-04-2010 @ 11:08 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1965 Joined: Oct 2009 Burning the points and coil, most likely one set of points was closed and this will cause the coil and points to burn and overheat the coil.and run the battery down, if the battery is run down, it did this, did the engine restart when you had the battery recharged? worst is that you have to have the coil rebuilt,with the distributer, send to SKIP,and do both, I always disconnect the battery when I am parking storing my 37 or or my MODEL A NEVER NEVER, leave it hooked up, YOU NEVER KNOW, !!! my 3 cents 37 RAGTOPMAN supereal 04-04-2010 @ 2:18 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 It is a very good idea to install a master battery switch on one of the battery posts, particularly if you are a forgetful geezer like so many of us. They are certainly cheaper than a new coil and points, and insurance against old wiring catching fire and destroying the car and anything else close by, as well as slowing down would-be thieves. jerry.grayson 04-04-2010 @ 4:32 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 128 Joined: Oct 2009 supereal I don't really disagree with your advice on the master switch, but when I aquire a new old Ford the first thing I do is install new wireing. The master switch is just one more thing to corrode and acquire resistance and I don't use them. I do disconnect the ground cable if it is going to sit for a while. JMHO supereal 04-05-2010 @ 9:11 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Jerry: I've never had one of the "green knob" switches fail. That may be because I use the Optima batteries which don't leak acid. They are much easier than having to unbolt cable clamps every day. I can't disagree with rewiring, but that is often beyond the skill and ambition of many owners. As Henry Ford apparently didn't have much use for fuses (among other "frills") our old cars are ticking time bombs in many cases. Steves46 04-05-2010 @ 12:09 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 167 Joined: Oct 2009 I too have an Optima and have been considering getting one of those cut-off switches; small piece of mind. My question is does it matter which terminal the switch goes on? I was thinking for mine that I would use the negative post on my positive ground system. lightflyer1 04-05-2010 @ 8:31 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 107 Joined: Oct 2009 Any suggestions for installing one of the disconnects on a '35 sedan? The battery cover is very close to the terminals and doesn't seem to be room there for one. I already experienced the results of leaving it on once. 37RAGTOPMAN 04-06-2010 @ 5:42 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1965 Joined: Oct 2009 I installed one of the heavy duty flip switches, on a MODEL A TUDOR,between the front seats, it is pretty simple, drilling a hole in the wooded floor board,and just use heavy duty battery cables, you will have to measure,for length of cables,and maybe install ends,by soldering them, these flip switches are I think sold at truck stops, as will in antique car magazines.etc etc this job is worth the PEACE OF MIND,and EASE of USE. I KNOW that owning a car with the battery under the floor boards is not easy to get to the battery every time you want to go for a ride, hope this helps 37RAGTOPMAN maybe someone else will weigh in with more ideas TomO 04-06-2010 @ 7:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7256 Joined: Oct 2009 Like Jerry Grayson, I am not a fan of the disconnect switches, but they are the best option for a car with the battery under the seat. For under the hood batteries, I just unhook the ground cable when I park the car for the night. For my arthritic hands, it is easier to use a wrench than turn a knob. It does not matter which side of the battery is switched off. The switch must be placed in a spot that is convenient to use. The connections to the switch must be good and use a heavier cable than stock on both sides of the switch, because you are increasing the length of the cable. I prefer switching the ground side because an accidental grounding of the connections will not cause a spark. Tom

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