1965 runs when switched off | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models
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1965 runs when switched off

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Thunderbird Year
1965
Just bought this car and it has had tons of work done to it. It has been running normally, but today I came home and turning off ignition didn't turn off the car.

I changed the starter relay and no difference.

The car has electronic ignition and was working fine. Now the brown wire to the coil is continuously hot


Any ideas?


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Just now the key started working. I pulled the bottom panel and found what I thought might be a relay for the power to the coil (picture). I disturbed the wires and now the ignition turns off.

BUT....., the parking switch is not working. In the service receipts, I can see that they have been endlessly fooling around with adjusting the linkage and replacing the switch. Before, I would have to shove the steering column to the left, with force, to engage the starter safety switch....... now nothing
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I see poorly crimped terminals, questionable use of electrical tape and no doubt other issues.....I think you need to get a schematic and start tracing down and correcting problems as a first step. For instance, you may find a surprise under that electrical tape alone. And your running on issue could be an ignition switch intermittent issue.

Also looks like somebody put a Pertronix ignition conversion in your distributor if you didn't already know....those require a matching ignition coil and specific wiring vis a vis the ballast resistor. Early versions of the Pertronix (Ignitor I versions) had limited circuit protection so be careful working with the ignition, disconnect the battery when doing anything suspect.
 
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I see poorly crimped terminals, questionable use of electrical tape and no doubt other issues.....I think you need to get a schematic and start tracing down and correcting problems as a first step. For instance, you may find a surprise under that electrical tape alone. And your running on issue could be an ignition switch intermittent issue.

Also looks like somebody put a Pertronix ignition conversion in your distributor if you didn't already know....those require a matching ignition coil and specific wiring vis a vis the ballast resistor. Early versions of the Pertronix (Ignitor I versions) had limited circuit protection so be careful working with the ignition, disconnect the battery when doing anything suspect.
Sounds like a good path. A major concern is the neutral safety switch. I know that it was replaced, but the key is no longer working

Is that circled component stock or a relay for the electronic ignition ?
 
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