Coil hot with switch off

[Skeezixx]

Trying to get my car ready for the tour tomorrow I took it on a shakedown cruise (12 miles). Two hours after parking it (turning it off and removing key) I went to wash down the firewall and the coil was too hot to touch.

What's going on?

[lindy williams]

Is this a popout switch? If so, you must push the popout in to turn the switch off. If it is not a popout switch it sounds like the switch is defective.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Most likely the switch terminal is touching the gas tank. It happened on my repro switch, but luckily I happened to touch the coil after only 10 minutes and felt it was warm.

[Skeezixx]

It IS a popout and an unreliable one too! I'm having trouble removing the key. I must have tugged on it and put it into ON position while struggling with the key.

I don't think it's the terminals behind the dash. They look like mountains of silicone in my efforts to prevent such a happening.

Thanks guys. I'll check it out

[Tom Wesenberg]

I usually don't look at my ammeter before getting out of the car, but it's a good idea to do it. The coil being left on should show -4 amps, and the brake pedal not turning off the stop light should show about 4 or 5 amp drain.

[Skeezixx]

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It must have been the popout. I guess struggling to remove the key I "Popped it out."

I disconnected the battery and let the coil cool off and then reconnected it and now everything seems ok.

Thanks guys.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Skeezixx

It must have been the popout. I guess struggling to remove the key I "Popped it out."

I disconnected the battery and let the coil cool off and then reconnected it and now everything seems ok.

Thanks guys.

Be careful to double check it, as the engine may have turned just enough to have the points open.

[Tom Endy]

I try to remember to glance at the ammeter whenever I exit the car (sometimes I forget) to make sure nothing is turned on drawing current (brake light switch, shorted ignition, dome light, headlights).

The electrical top of the coil is connected direct to the battery. When you turn the key on it connects the electrical bottom of the coil to the ignition points. A short anywhere from the electrical bottom of the coil to ground and you will have current flowing through the coil continually and it will get hot.

A few years back I had an original pop out cable that had a habit of popping out when I slammed the driver's door shut. No matter how diligent I was to observe the ammeter when I exited the car, the ignition would sometimes be turned on when I slammed the door shut. If the points happened to be closed the coil got hot.

After a few of these episodes I sent the pop out cable to Cal Allen the "Key Guy" and he fixed it for me.

Tom Endy