Ignition Switch Question |
Post Reply | Page 123> |
Author | |
havasujeepn
Member Joined: 16 Aug. 2019 Location: LHC Arizona Status: Offline Points: 107 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 11 May 2020 at 11:59pm |
Greetings, I've had my jeep for almost a year now and I've always had to remove the terminals from the battery posts, because it seemed the battery was being drained. If set for a couple of days, it had a hard time starting and I'd end up having to charge the battery. I've always had the key in the "off" position, when not driving. When in the "off" position, whether the key is in or out, when I press on the starter switch, the starter will turn the engine over, but will not start. The horn and lights also work when the key is in the "off" position. There are two positions for the key in the ignition. There is the 12 o'clock position, "off", and the 3 o'clock position, "on". Nothing in between for ACC. Was wondering if any one else has had this problem and what did you to correct it. I'll bet the PO may not have wired the electrical correctly, if that is the problem. Maybe the wrong ignition switch is installed. Any helpful hints would be very much appreciated.
|
|
48 Lefty
SN 183244 ACM 173419 Engine 195912 Block 641087-L-W4 |
|
Steelyard Blues
Member Joined: 09 Oct. 2017 Location: Reno, NV Status: Offline Points: 1497 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Sounds like it is wired correctly to me.
If you look at the wiring diagram, the horn and the lights are not supplied by the ignition switch but the ammeter. The ignition switch only powers the coil and the fuel gauge. The starter switch gets its power directly from the battery. It is possible that your switch is not completely turning off. Since it will not start with the key off, this may not be the case. Disconnect the coil and fuel gauge for a couple days and see what happens. Possibly your fuel gauge is hot all the time or there is some other item that the PO has wire up that is not turning off. Another possibility is a taillight remaining on. Do you have a separate dash light switch? Micah
Edited by Steelyard Blues - 12 May 2020 at 12:23am |
|
1947 CJ2A 106327, Engine J109205, Tub 97077. Luzon Red
https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/steelyard-blues_topic41024_post397981.html?KW=micah+movie#397981 1965 Johnson Furnace Company M416 #6-1577 |
|
Lee MN
Member Joined: 13 Aug. 2008 Location: Harris, MN Status: Offline Points: 4950 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Or the voltage regulator is sticking and draining the battery 😮
Lee |
|
LEE
44 GPW-The Perfected Willys 49 2A “If you wait, you only get older” 67 M715 American Made Rolling History |
|
havasujeepn
Member Joined: 16 Aug. 2019 Location: LHC Arizona Status: Offline Points: 107 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Micah,
I guess it's time for me to really follow the wiring diagram and make sure it's wired correctly. There is no separate dash light switch. I guess I've been avoiding to contort my hands, arms and body to look at things behind the dash. I'm not as nimble as I used to be, but I guess I need to stop making excuses. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Lee, How do I check the voltage regulator? Would that be something like checking if there is a current going thru using a meter?
|
|
48 Lefty
SN 183244 ACM 173419 Engine 195912 Block 641087-L-W4 |
|
WeeWilly
Member Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 07 May 2009 Location: Clayton IN Status: Offline Points: 3423 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
You could take the ground cable off at the battery and check to see if there is any current between the the cable and the battery post. With every thing turned off there shouldn't be any. I would also suspect the voltage regulator is the culprit . Jim
|
|
47 CJ2A (Ranch Hand) 48 CJ2A, 48 Willys truck, T3C 3782, M274 (Military Mule)
|
|
havasujeepn
Member Joined: 16 Aug. 2019 Location: LHC Arizona Status: Offline Points: 107 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Jim, did what you suggested and there IS current running between the ground cable and battery post with the everything turned off! Would that be the voltage regulator being the culprit or is it in addition to what may be wrong?
|
|
48 Lefty
SN 183244 ACM 173419 Engine 195912 Block 641087-L-W4 |
|
Stev
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 27 July 2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 2389 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Yes.
The key coil only has only on and off. My experience is 12 o'clock off and 3 o'clock run (which seems 180 degrees out of how it seems like it should work). 12 o'clock is also the position where the key comes out. (Experts Please weigh in on this) Based on you battery drain it sounds like you have a hot wire going to ground that is draining your battery somewhere on your Jeep. Based on it not starting (assuming the starting circuit is not part of the voltage drain issue)- I would guess you have corrosion on one or more of your wires going from the battery, to the foot switch to the key coil posts, to the key coil internal rotation switch plates (you might be able to rotate the switch a bunch of times and clean that up), to the feed wire between the coil and the side of the distributor (this is the wire small wire that attaches to the top of the coil), or the wire connection that the small wire (Negative side of the primary on the coil that goes to the points and condenser) going to the outside of the coil. The post on the side of the coil can also be take apart and its connections on the outside and inside need to be clean.
|
|
Stev
1946 CJ2A Trail Jeep (The Saint), 1948 CJ2A Lefty Restored |
|
uncamoney
Member Joined: 26 June 2019 Location: greeley co Status: Offline Points: 451 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The oldest vehicle I ever worked on was a 1906 Buick. Some of the old cures still work today. Put a knife switch from the battery and maybe hook it to a cable under the dash. Easy and foolproof.
|
|
john
|
|
havasujeepn
Member Joined: 16 Aug. 2019 Location: LHC Arizona Status: Offline Points: 107 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Steve, you've given me some great suggestions. I'll be doing them this weekend. We're you saying "yes" to the problem may be the voltage regulator?
John, not too sure what you mean. Can you be more specific? Like either the pos or neg terminal and to what cable, under the dash, to hook up to. And what result am I looking for?
|
|
48 Lefty
SN 183244 ACM 173419 Engine 195912 Block 641087-L-W4 |
|
uncamoney
Member Joined: 26 June 2019 Location: greeley co Status: Offline Points: 451 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
It doesn't matter what cable you put the knife switch on as long as no other wires are hooked to the battery. You have broken the circuit.
|
|
john
|
|
havasujeepn
Member Joined: 16 Aug. 2019 Location: LHC Arizona Status: Offline Points: 107 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
John, I guess I should have googled what a switch knife is. Once I saw the picture, I understand what you mean. Makes a lot of sense! Duh, on me. Thanks!
|
|
48 Lefty
SN 183244 ACM 173419 Engine 195912 Block 641087-L-W4 |
|
DMusil
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2019 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 271 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Or you can pull a battery cable off and put a test light between the cable and battery terminal.(ignition key on off) Then one by one pull connectors off until the test light goes off. (assuming the test light is lit up as in a drain condition.
|
|
DMusil
|
|
uncamoney
Member Joined: 26 June 2019 Location: greeley co Status: Offline Points: 451 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The other thing you can do when the Jeep is unused is to just unhook a battery cable. Sort of the same thing. If it is your voltage regulator, It becomes more Interesting.
Sorry, I've only been working on vehicles for over 50 years. I try to not tell you things that you already know. |
|
john
|
|
WeeWilly
Member Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 07 May 2009 Location: Clayton IN Status: Offline Points: 3423 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
That gives a you a starting point. I had the same thing happen to me and it was the regulator. Changed the regulator and took care of the problem. You could start eliminating possible causes by disconcerting one item at a time to find the problem. Take the bat. wire off the regulator and do the battery test again. If you still have currant draw take the horn wire off and test again. Move on through the circuit (light switch, brake light switch, etc. Jim |
|
47 CJ2A (Ranch Hand) 48 CJ2A, 48 Willys truck, T3C 3782, M274 (Military Mule)
|
|
jeepsterjim
Member Joined: 13 July 2011 Location: lincoln, ca Status: Offline Points: 1283 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
When trouble shooting automotive electrical circuits, to fnd which circut is causing a bleed down, we put a tester in line with the neg cable and neg post. If the tester lights up you have a circuit on. On a early Willys with a "Pos grd" place a tester in line between the cable and Pos post. Then start removing fuses or disconnect one "hot" wire at a time until the tester light goes off. We also used a buzzer and when the sound stopped we knew what circuit to check out. hope this makes sense.
|
|
Jim
CJ-2A - 81299 |
|
Bruce W
Member Joined: 29 July 2005 Location: Northeast Colorado Status: Offline Points: 9651 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I don't know about any pre-war Willys vehicles, but no Willys- or Ford-built jeeps had "Pos grd".
BW
|
|
It is NOT a Jeep Willys! It is a Willys jeep.
Happy Trails! Good-bye, Good Luck, and May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to You! We Have Miles to Jeep, Before We Sleep. |
|
uncamoney
Member Joined: 26 June 2019 Location: greeley co Status: Offline Points: 451 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Bruce, my MB was neg ground. I don't know what year it was, it had a 1946 title. it didn't matter as it was legal. About any Pos ground vehicles that are Pos ground are British and a few here from years ago. Blame Lucas.
|
|
john
|
|
WeeWilly
Member Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 07 May 2009 Location: Clayton IN Status: Offline Points: 3423 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Ford had positive ground starting with the model A up to the 1956. The model T was negative ground, have no idea why they change to positive. Jim
|
|
47 CJ2A (Ranch Hand) 48 CJ2A, 48 Willys truck, T3C 3782, M274 (Military Mule)
|
|
Post Reply | Page 123> |
Tweet |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |