by rfergnes Fri Jun 13, 2014 3:25 pmStarted the '65 this morning and smoke started pouring out of the ignition switch. Damn near had to get he extinguisher out! Any thoughts from anyone out there?
4 posters
Ignition/Key Hole Fire and Smoke
rfergnes- Number of posts : 39
Location : Arlington, WA
Registration date : 2013-09-15
shorty- Number of posts : 135
Location : St Petersburg FL
Registration date : 2014-01-01
The contacts shorted internally, would be my guess.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I dont know that there is anything in there to short out,,stuff just turns on when the wires touch,,,,however,,,,if something in the wiring shorted out,,,,that could burn the ignition switch out,,,,,so,,unplug the ignition switch,,,find the battery wire in the connector,,,,,touch it to the starter wire to see if the starter cranks,,,,touch it to the ignition wire and see if it gets violent or hot,,,,,,run some tests and see if any drama shows up,,,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
if you can tell the colors at the ignition switch,,,RED is battery,,,,PURPLE cranks the starter,,,,PINK powers up the ignition coil,,,,,,,
vanner68- Number of posts : 655
Location : Eastpointe MI
Registration date : 2008-09-22
Probably not a short, but a sloppy connection inside the switch will arc and smoke. These are 50 years old now.
rfergnes- Number of posts : 39
Location : Arlington, WA
Registration date : 2013-09-15
I'm pretty sure its the ACC connection part of the wiring harness not in the ignition switch itself. I tested each part as suggested and the ACC connector slot lit up and smoked. I tried to remove the wire from the back of the 'female' part (where the switch connects to the wiring harness) and I couldn't get the wire out. I got frustrated, plugged it back in and started it up, it smoked a little but stopped after a few seconds.
I decided to drive it a few miles and nothing happened until I shut it off. It smoked a little but not much. Not sure how to proceed at this point. Do I need to replace the ACC wire, the ignition switch, or just leave it alone.
Thanks for all the help on this. You guys are awesome!
I decided to drive it a few miles and nothing happened until I shut it off. It smoked a little but not much. Not sure how to proceed at this point. Do I need to replace the ACC wire, the ignition switch, or just leave it alone.
Thanks for all the help on this. You guys are awesome!
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
You should only have 3 wires going to the back of the ignition switch,,,how many do you have? and do they look factory or added on? We put fusible links on the feed wire at the starter solenoid so WHEN,,,,,not IF,,,,,the wiring shorts out,,,,the link melts and shuts off the power to the van instead of the wiring and van, catches fire and burns up......you kind of need to know what amperage is going through those wires,,,,,,unplug that bad wire and see what still works,,,,,what color is it,,,,,a radio would be one thing that could go on an accessory wire,,,,,,,you need to find the problem,,,,if you just throw a new switch on it, it could burn right up or since its new, something else could burn up,,,,,do the wires go into an official connector or just have like blue female spade terminals plugging the wires onto the back of the ignition switch,,,,,,make yourself a little amp tester if you do not have one,,,,get one of those inline fuse holders,,,,put male spade connectors on it,,,put a 10 amp fuse in it,,,,hook up the battery wire and ignition wires to the fuse,,,,,jump the starter wire to it to start the van,,,,,see if the fuse survives,,,,,then hook up the accessory wire to the holder,,see if the fuse survives,,,,,,get some clues so you know what direction to start heading in,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,,,if it is a brown/white wire, it goes to the #4 terminal on the voltage regulator and idiot light......
rfergnes- Number of posts : 39
Location : Arlington, WA
Registration date : 2013-09-15
IT is the Brown/white wire.
rfergnes- Number of posts : 39
Location : Arlington, WA
Registration date : 2013-09-15
I'll try and get some picture up this weekend...
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,Like I say,,,,that wire goes to the GEN light and voltage regulator,,,,,so unplug the voltage regulator and see if the smoking goes away,,,,,if it does,,,,the voltage regulator probably is bad,,,,if it still smokes,,,I would have to say the wiring is shorted out that goes from the ignition switch to the voltage regulator,,,,,,,you need a new ignition switch,,,,but you need to test if that switch died of old age or something killed it,,,,,,,
rfergnes- Number of posts : 39
Location : Arlington, WA
Registration date : 2013-09-15
Can you tell where the voltage regulator is and what it looks like? The Brown/white wire goes into a bundle of other wires then disappears into a sea of electrical tape.
Thanks
Thanks
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
now thats a good question,,,,,,in this picture it is that red box above the dipstick,,,,,if,,,someone did not change to an alternator that has the voltage regulator built into it,,,,,,,do you have an ammeter to test the current going through that brown wire,,,,,or get a 5 amp fuse, unplug that wire,,,,hold the fuse between that wire and 12 volts like from the fusebox,,,,,,I want you to send 12 volts through a 5 amp fuse to that wire,,,,,if the fuse blows that would mean more than 5 amps is going through that wire and that would be bad,,,,,,its just a test,,,,,gathering clues to solve this mystery,,,,,,
