40 Merc under-dash switches

[Clem Clement]

I'm gingerly exploring my 40Merc. Under the dash on the driver's side there are a rheostat knob for the dash lights and an no/off switch. The dash has mounting holes for the switch which seem factory. I see nothing on the wiring diagram. When I first bought the car in 1956, it had a driver's side spotlight which is now gone.
Gone is the day when I could work upside down... (I turned the switch on and beer flowed out of the horn button...that is factory , right?
Merry Christmas,
Clem

[Zeke3]

Was it a lager, ale or porter?

[1931 flamingo]

Love your humor ! !


MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR ! ! !

Paul

[Clem Clement]

1931 Flamingo,
Thanks. I my retired capacity, I don't have the strength to lug and hug as I used to. Still my life's goal is to help make other folks happy. Thus the silliness in my writing and thinking.
Merry Christmas,
Clem

[Clem Clement]

Parkbrauerei / Park & Bellheimer AG | Pirmasens, Germany ...

Immer schmect

[Zeke3]

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Klingt erfrischend.

[mfirth]

Ich verstehe nicht, i do understand ale tho & CGRISTmas.....

[Clem Clement]

Parkbrau was my fav local beer while stationed in Germany

[Clem Clement]

There is a wire from the ignition to the paddle switch.

[Clem Clement]

The wire goes thru the paddle switch and to the firewall Resister's left end???

[JayChicago]

So this switch provides temporary by-pass of the resister to help with starting, added by a previous owner.

[Clem Clement]

Turn it on for starting and then shut it off? If I leave it on, I cook the coil?

[Ggmac]

Isnt the on off switch for the dome - interior lights ?

[rotorwrench]

The integral instrument lamp dimmer and light switch came later than 1940. I think the 1942 Mercury did have a separate instrument lamp dimmer rheostat but I'm not sure about 1940. Heater set ups could have a rheostat switch for the fan motor but it depends on the heater type whether factory or aftermarket. Dome light switches were either close to the light or on the B-pillar in many old Fords clear up into the 50s.

It's harder to find information for Mercury cars but they did share stuff with the Fords to a certain degree. The dashes were definitely different in the early years but they still had light, throttle, choke, vent, & wiper knobs. Some had overdrive control knobs if equipped and the convertibles had top control knobs. All of them had the column mounted ignition switch till 1948 or so.

[Clem Clement]

This is a 40Merc fordor convertible sedan. No dome light. Dinner rheostat is separate and full of mold. Car has hot air heater. It will come out soon for inspection.
Thanks

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

Turn it on for starting and then shut it off? If I leave it on, I cook the coil?

Yes. And yes.

[1931 flamingo]

" switch provides temporary by-pass of the resister to help with starting"


There was a discussion w/diagram on the EFV8 club board about this.
Paul in CT

[rotorwrench]

I don't think a bypass switch for the ignition resistor would have been a factory item. If it is then that would be the first time I've gotten that information. It was likely added by a former owner. This is where photos of unknown things are needed to aid in identification and for future reference to others.

[deuce_roadster]

The dash light switch is integral with the headlight switch on 40 Fords, so I suspect same on a Merc. When the headlights are on, the dash lights are on and adjustable via the rheostat you found.
How is this for not being OT Mike!

[Clem Clement]

I need to sort out the on position and so mark it. I have in the recent past noted that the starter cranks slowly. The switch is mounted on a pierce of small aluminum sheet screwed in place to the bottom lip of the curved dash next to the holes for the dash light rheostat. It is clearly not factory.

I removed and checked the dash light rheostat. The nichrome coil spring used to take off a lower voltage is disconnected at one end.