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05-10-2021, 02:37 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: May 2021
Location: Omaha, Ne.
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Battery Issue for a new owner
So two weeks ago I was lucky enough to inherit a 1930 Model A that has been sitting in a garage for the last 50 years. Slowly going through it trying to get it to run. Last week I bought a new battery and four days later it was dead. I am assuming there is a drain some place. Any tips for someone who has had to youtube everything about this car? lol
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05-10-2021, 02:46 PM | #2 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Welcome - and I am new myself and doing a similar run down. I am sure someone with way more experience will chime in but my $0.02 would lead me to chase the ignition/popout switch. If this remained on either by key or by failure- it will be continuously energizing the coil. This could drain the battery.
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05-10-2021, 02:51 PM | #3 |
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Location: Southern California
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Check the generator cut-out located on top of the generator. The contacts may be stuck closed. That will certainly drain the battery through the generator.
Tom Endy |
05-10-2021, 03:18 PM | #4 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
If you had you key in the on position that would kill the battery.
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05-10-2021, 03:19 PM | #5 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Welcome to the Barn, Kursed. What 'model' do you have? Tudor, Coupe?
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05-10-2021, 03:35 PM | #6 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
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Just start disconnecting electrical stuff until the light goes out or the meter shows zero volts. Thats your draw. Whatever it is needs to be fixed. Many things can cause a draw, Stuck stop light switch, stuck cut-out as mentioned, bad key switch as mentioned, a ground from key switch to fuel tank, etc. This is one reason why many fellas install a master shut-off. |
05-10-2021, 03:35 PM | #7 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
It is the 4 door coupe I think it is called. I will be honest, I don't know jack about this car. My mom inherited it and was just going to sell it. I said I would take it so it says in the family.
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05-10-2021, 03:42 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Put your location in your profile; a member who lives near you may be able to dedicate a Saturday to assessing the car and helping you prioritize.
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05-10-2021, 03:45 PM | #9 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Alex, I have actually had some really nice people from the local club stop by already. If all else fails I will bother them again. lol
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05-10-2021, 04:04 PM | #10 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Besides the cutout, one of the most common battery drain items on a A is the brake light switch staying on.
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05-10-2021, 04:41 PM | #11 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
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05-10-2021, 06:40 PM | #12 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
So I located the brake switch. How do I know if it's not working properly?
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05-10-2021, 06:50 PM | #13 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
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05-10-2021, 07:13 PM | #14 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Patrick has the right idea. Use a test light or just a bulb. If you use a volt meter, but it into the ammeter mode so that you can see how much current is being drawn. If there is a big current draw you will get a spark when you scratch the chassis with the ground strap. Charge the battery with a battery charger before you do this, of course. Keep the charger on the battery until you figure out the current draw. The battery should not be left in the discharged state.
I thought about what Patrick said about measuring the voltage between the ground strap and ground. He is right, there should not be any voltage if there is no current draw.
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A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 05-11-2021 at 06:55 AM. |
05-10-2021, 07:18 PM | #15 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Like Bob said, is the stop/brake light on ?
Check for power at the switch and thru the switch. Or, remove a wire from it and see if the light[s] go out. If the light is always on and the pedal linkage is working properly, then switch is bad. It can be changed easily or most times it can be fixed. If you buy a new one from one of the 'A' vendors get the expensive one. The switch keeping the light on is a fairly common problem. |
05-10-2021, 07:40 PM | #16 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Go in the garage at night without turning on your electricity and see if you find the culprit. Just don’t fall.
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05-10-2021, 07:57 PM | #17 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Twice recently I have been asked to help out with a Model A that the battery went dead. Both times it was found that someone did not push in the popout switch, or make sure that it stayed in, and that drained the battery. Once it even caused the coil to swell up and then burn out. many folks who have not studied a Model A ignition do not know that a popout must be pushed in to open the switch contacts.
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05-11-2021, 01:28 AM | #18 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Might familiarize yourself with the headlight switch also, lights could have been left on in the daylight and not noticed, especially if kids ( or curious adults) have been playing in the car. If I remember correctly, the handle straight down is off.
Just throwing it out there, personally, I do not park anything inside over night with the battery connected, old car, new car doesn't matter, but definitely not something with a questionable electrical system. Welcome to the Model A world! Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk |
05-11-2021, 09:52 AM | #19 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Possible dud battery.
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05-11-2021, 10:06 AM | #20 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Someone tell me if I'm wrong, but there is current to the coil regardless of the position of the ignition switch. Everything is HOT on the care except to the distributor which is controlled by the ignition switch. I don't have a pop-up so I don't know if that is different. Check to see if you have a master cutoff switch on the drivers side engine wall, inside near the clutch or under the hood. If you have one, charge the battery and then turn the switch off and check your battery the next day. Don't forget to turn the switch back on like I have done.
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05-11-2021, 10:13 AM | #21 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Great link to the wiring in the Model A. I have been looking through it but haven't memorized it yet. Every time I look at it I find something new. Firs couple of slides in should show you all most of the paths you could follow to check for pull.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf |
05-11-2021, 12:01 PM | #22 | |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Quote:
Yep, these old Fords are wired differently than a more modern vehicle. The coil is hot and the key/ ignition switch is what controls current to the distributor. |
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05-11-2021, 07:04 PM | #23 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Except if it has a modern ignition switch, in which case the power to the coil could be off when the ignition switch is off.
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A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
05-12-2021, 05:44 AM | #24 | |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Quote:
If you just replace the switch it'll be wired the same. The switch is between the coil and points. Its not too hard to rewire so it is more like a modern vehicle. I prefer to do that, I don't like the coil hot until I want it to be hot. |
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05-12-2021, 10:14 AM | #25 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
One check you can do...while the car is turned off, pull the belt off the generator. If the generator starts to spin on its own (known as "motoring") it suggests that the cutoff is bad and current is leaking back through the generator.
Good luck, and tell us what you find when you solve the problem. Ken
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05-12-2021, 02:11 PM | #26 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
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05-13-2021, 03:42 PM | #27 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Thanks for all the help! So I think I found the issue (maybe). After installing my freshly charged battery last night I noticed the tail lights on. I'm thinking i left the switch on the steering wheel on.......yeah i'm dumb.
I bought a terminal shut off for the future. |
05-13-2021, 04:30 PM | #28 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
post-flight check list:
fuel off levers up switches off key off ammeter check |
05-13-2021, 04:38 PM | #29 |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Welcome to the “club”. The “yeah I’m dumb” club that is.
When I put the car in the garage I always shut off the gas valve and let the carburetor run dry until the car dies. One day I forgot to turn the key off so the battery was dead the next time I got in it. I also tried to start the car one time by pressing the foot rest instead of the starter switch. David Serrano |
05-13-2021, 08:11 PM | #30 | |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Quote:
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05-13-2021, 08:11 PM | #31 | |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Quote:
Learning curve ! We have all been there.
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Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done |
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05-13-2021, 11:50 PM | #32 | |
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Re: Battery Issue for a new owner
Quote:
On your fancy new battery disconnect, if it's the post type with the thumb wheel, those get gunked up and need cleaned occasionally, just a warning. Good luck! Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk |
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