QuestionI am experiencing a current draw on the battery with the ignition and all switches off. I get a spark when the battery cable is removed, consiquiently the battery always going dead. Any suggestions on how to track down the source would be appreciated.
AnswerI do not have a wiring diagram for a model A, and it has been 58 years since I've owned one, but as I recall, the electrical system in the car is extremely simple. Very few items are even connected to the electrical system when the switches are off, so one of those few items must be the culprit.
Since you can tell when the current leakage is occurring (by tapping the cable on the battery post and noting the spark), you can track the problem down by disconnecting the suspects one at a time until you find the problem.
I'd start with the brake light switch: disconnect the wire from the main harness to the brake light switch under the floor. Then see if the spark still occurs.
If it does, next disconnect all the wires from the generator and the cutout on top of the generator. Test again.
If that still hasn't stopped it, disconnect the wire from the main harness to the horn button, and so forth.
There is a light over the dash instrument that has power to it all the time, try disconnecting that.
Leave each item disconnected until you find the cause (the last item you disconnected, of course). If you get down to just the the ignition switch itself, take one wire off at a time, testing after each wire. Nothing should be "on" with the ignition off, but perhaps something is still connected due to a switch fault.
Sooner or later, you will find the culprit, then inspect and repair or replace that item, or if it is the generator or cutout, you might need to get a professional to look at them.
Good luck, all it takes is persistence and logic!
Let me know what it turns out to be, please?
Dick
