ignition smoking plz help

[mrnichols2015]

I have a 1972 chevy pickup I just got and when the ignition gets turned to accessory or start the ignition starts smoking immediately.pulled the ignition and the ignition and accessory poles show overheat

[aleekat]

Did you buy it like this? Sounds like a dead short somewhere.

[Blue Bowtie]

Is the resistance wire for the coil still in the circuit? If someone has rewired the truck, it may have been removed. This is typically done if an aftermarket electronic ignition is installed, but if your '72 still has the original system (points, condenser, and coil) and the points are closed when the engine is stopped, the coil and wiring can overheat.

More importantly, the ACCESSORY position is NOT the same as the run position. ACCESSORY is activated by turning the ignition lock cylinder backward, not clockwise.

Further, is it actually the ignition wiring (for coil power) getting hot, or the orange wired accessory circuits? By your description it sounds as if the accessory circuits are overheating. That could be any number of things from the alternator regulator (mechanical) to the body accessories. If you start pulling fuses it may help isolate the problem areas.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mrnichols2015

I have a 1972 chevy pickup I just got and when the ignition gets turned to accessory or start the ignition starts smoking immediately.pulled the ignition and the ignition and accessory poles show overheat

when you say ignition what does that mean ? the key is turned to the run position so then what is hot smoking ?

If the coil is smoking check that you DO NOT have the full 12 volts on the ignition coil............This coil requires a resistance in the feed to the coil. this reduces the current of the coil when the engine is off key to run position. also never leave key in the run position with the engine off not good....

now lets say you remove the dist cap and the points are gone. this then would be an ignitor modification to replace the old oEM points. the ignitor requires 12 full volts ... but the coil must have the lower volts to protect it from damage over heating... check that this is wired properly.

key to run ,engine off ,the coil should have 7-9 volts on it.on the + side..

not sure on coil primary resistance 1.8-3 OHMS I think ...