Ignition switch ACC position
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 8
Ignition switch ACC position
Being generous I let my wife drive my 66 convertible. When she parked it, she removed the key but the key was in the ACC position. I didn't notice it for 4 days and naturally the battery is dead. So on to the questions:
Should the key be removeable in the ACC position?
What circuits are energized with the key in the ACC positon?
The battery has been on the charger for 4 hours, it's settled at 11.4V which tells me it has a dead cell. To be expected I believe.
Should the key be removeable in the ACC position?
What circuits are energized with the key in the ACC positon?
The battery has been on the charger for 4 hours, it's settled at 11.4V which tells me it has a dead cell. To be expected I believe.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 67
From: Redding ca.
acc. position
I have a 66 and my key does come out in the accessory position, and the battery goes go dead overnight, and that's with nothing on or in use. Unfortunately, it has happened to me twice now, but was able to fully recharge battery. Bad design! Any body have an idea to prevent this other than being more careful?
Chuck
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
My '66 key is removable not only in the ACC position, but also in the OFF and RUN positions! 
I'm gonna get around to replacing the ignition tumbler one of these days, along with the door locks which still work OK. But, I want them to all be keyed alike.
Race Director
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From: Mustang OK
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What's an ACC position?
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
Yep, same here, and I find it handy to pull the key and unlock my glove box when I'm driving along... 
Joe
Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,992
Likes: 3,974
From: Cold Harbor, VA
my old original keys both pulled out of ign in On and ACC, as well as Off. They were well worn.
I did not have my knockouts so I pulled my ign switch and obtained the numbers off it, as well as that of the tumbler in the glovebox door lock. Sent the key numbers to Pete Lindahl in NM, and he returned two sets of new keys to me, along with all the requisite knockouts.
The new keys do not pull out of ign when they are not supposed to.
So, I have good fresh keys for judging when I want to do that, and old worn keys to pull out of ignition and play with while I am driving when I want to do that.....
write me if you want info on Pete. He's the man when it comes to worn out keys.
I did not have my knockouts so I pulled my ign switch and obtained the numbers off it, as well as that of the tumbler in the glovebox door lock. Sent the key numbers to Pete Lindahl in NM, and he returned two sets of new keys to me, along with all the requisite knockouts.
The new keys do not pull out of ign when they are not supposed to.
So, I have good fresh keys for judging when I want to do that, and old worn keys to pull out of ignition and play with while I am driving when I want to do that.....
write me if you want info on Pete. He's the man when it comes to worn out keys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
my old original keys both pulled out of ign in On and ACC, as well as Off. They were well worn.
I did not have my knockouts so I pulled my ign switch and obtained the numbers off it, as well as that of the tumbler in the glovebox door lock. Sent the key numbers to Pete Lindahl in NM, and he returned two sets of new keys to me, along with all the requisite knockouts.
The new keys do not pull out of ign when they are not supposed to.
So, I have good fresh keys for judging when I want to do that, and old worn keys to pull out of ignition and play with while I am driving when I want to do that.....
write me if you want info on Pete. He's the man when it comes to worn out keys.
I did not have my knockouts so I pulled my ign switch and obtained the numbers off it, as well as that of the tumbler in the glovebox door lock. Sent the key numbers to Pete Lindahl in NM, and he returned two sets of new keys to me, along with all the requisite knockouts.
The new keys do not pull out of ign when they are not supposed to.
So, I have good fresh keys for judging when I want to do that, and old worn keys to pull out of ignition and play with while I am driving when I want to do that.....
write me if you want info on Pete. He's the man when it comes to worn out keys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
)Could also be a defective diode in the alternator, defective regulator. Unhook those one at a time, see if the problem persists.
That'll be a start, anyhow! (Key in the ACC position?? Why?? Put it in the OFF position, see if anything changes)
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Do NOT leave the car with the key in the "ACC" position; that feeds power to everything in the car that might be turned on. The glove box light is fed directly from the battery (it's hot all the time), so it works regardless of what position the key is in.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 10
From: Dallas TX
Is your glove box light turning off? That's a frequent cause of ignition-off draw. If that's OK, it's probably the alternator (bad diode).
Do NOT leave the car with the key in the "ACC" position; that feeds power to everything in the car that might be turned on. The glove box light is fed directly from the battery (it's hot all the time), so it works regardless of what position the key is in.
Do NOT leave the car with the key in the "ACC" position; that feeds power to everything in the car that might be turned on. The glove box light is fed directly from the battery (it's hot all the time), so it works regardless of what position the key is in.
My bulb is gone in my glove box so no light but not sure about the connection. Would this have enough draw to kill a battery after several days?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
I have a 66 and my key does come out in the accessory position, and the battery goes go dead overnight, and that's with nothing on or in use. Unfortunately, it has happened to me twice now, but was able to fully recharge battery. Bad design! Any body have an idea to prevent this other than being more careful?
Chuck
Chuck
You'll just have to replace the ignition lock cylinder. When they get a little worn the key comes out in any position.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 667
Likes: 7
From: Milpitas Calyfornua
Could be your clock trying to wind itself. If it should hang up while doing so, it will act as a low level short and run a battery down in a few days.
