The Ford Barn

41SupDelux · 05-14-2025, 09:35 PM

1941 Ford Super Deluxe

When I bought this car, almost a year ago, I noticed the ignition wiring was a little peculiar, but I assumed there was a reason. Now it has got me wondering - why is the ignition switch wired like this? It appears my coil/resistor is hooked up directly to the battery. Any clue as to why? I've been having coil overheating problems and I'm wondering if this is the issue.

cas3 · 05-14-2025, 11:22 PM

if it was hooked straight to battery you would have burnt points, burnt coil, and dead battery in a day or so

petehoovie · 05-14-2025, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41SupDelux

1941 Ford Super Deluxe

When I bought this car, almost a year ago, I noticed the ignition wiring was a little peculiar, but I assumed there was a reason. Now it has got me wondering - why is the ignition switch wired like this? It appears my coil/resistor is hooked up directly to the battery. Any clue as to why? I've been having coil overheating problems and I'm wondering if this is the issue.

solidaxle · 05-15-2025, 06:02 AM

It does look wonkie. The ignition wire should be by itself. Here's a wiring diagram from VanPelt.Flathead_Electrical_wiring1941car.jpg

Bored&Stroked · 05-15-2025, 06:54 AM

All you're showing us is the back of the switch plate - we have no idea as to where any of those wires are coming from or going.

You need to trace the wires and also use a voltmeter to read the voltage you are seeing at the coil.

Terry,OH · 05-15-2025, 07:43 AM

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The wire with the yellow insulation sleeve should be on the switch Bat terminal it go to the lighting circuit breaker and attach to the terminal there that is battery -.
The two wires on the other terminal of the switch: one goes to one side of the ignition resistor it is the only wire on that terminal.

The second wire goes to the dash gauges.
Typically the two wires each goes to it's own terminal on the switch but there may have been a problem with the switch on the unused terminal??? If there is a problem with one of the switch contacts, the Ford P/N 11A-3712 look closely on the switch I believe the terminals are marked.

41SupDelux · 05-15-2025, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas3

if it was hooked straight to battery you would have burnt points, burnt coil, and dead battery in a day or so

The reason I've been digging around is because I've been having difficulty getting spark from a number of wires and my coil has been heating up.
So, might be everything you've described...

1942deluxe · 05-15-2025, 07:58 AM

They are marked on the back. The terminal to the right would be battery, top LH gauges, and bottom LH is coil if I'm looking at the picture right. Terry is correct on the routing. Something really looks wonky there in the wiring....

Terry,OH · 05-16-2025, 06:03 AM

Spark issue to some plug wires would be in the wires, the connections to the wires, where the wires plug into the inner distributor caps or the inner caps worn or incorrectly installed.
Not sure what coil your using (Ford or aftermarket) coils do get hot and the ignition resistor will also get very hot.

05-14-2025, 11:22 PM	#2
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! if it was hooked straight to battery you would have burnt points, burnt coil, and dead battery in a day or so

05-15-2025, 06:02 AM	#4
solidaxle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: upstate NY Posts: 538	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! It does look wonkie. The ignition wire should be by itself. Here's a wiring diagram from VanPelt.Flathead_Electrical_wiring1941car.jpg Last edited by solidaxle; 05-15-2025 at 07:23 AM.

05-15-2025, 06:54 AM	#5
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,906	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! All you're showing us is the back of the switch plate - we have no idea as to where any of those wires are coming from or going. You need to trace the wires and also use a voltmeter to read the voltage you are seeing at the coil.

05-15-2025, 07:43 AM	#6
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,394	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The wire with the yellow insulation sleeve should be on the switch Bat terminal it go to the lighting circuit breaker and attach to the terminal there that is battery -. The two wires on the other terminal of the switch: one goes to one side of the ignition resistor it is the only wire on that terminal. The second wire goes to the dash gauges. Typically the two wires each goes to it's own terminal on the switch but there may have been a problem with the switch on the unused terminal??? If there is a problem with one of the switch contacts, the Ford P/N 11A-3712 look closely on the switch I believe the terminals are marked.

05-15-2025, 07:58 AM	#8
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! They are marked on the back. The terminal to the right would be battery, top LH gauges, and bottom LH is coil if I'm looking at the picture right. Terry is correct on the routing. Something really looks wonky there in the wiring....

05-16-2025, 06:03 AM	#9
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,394	Re: Ignition Switch Wiring - what on earth?! Spark issue to some plug wires would be in the wires, the connections to the wires, where the wires plug into the inner distributor caps or the inner caps worn or incorrectly installed. Not sure what coil your using (Ford or aftermarket) coils do get hot and the ignition resistor will also get very hot.