Slick 60's

Does any one know if the red insulated ignition switch wire is suppose to get so hot you can barely hold it. I noticed mine was to hot to hold with the truck running

walts 66 wrote:Does any one know if the red insulated ignition switch wire is suppose to get so hot you can barely hold it. I noticed mine was to hot to hold with the truck running

I would say NO!! you got something drawing a lot of power off that wire. I suggest fixing it before it smokes... Not for sure what to say about how to fix but someone will shime in..

if its the original wiring, i would change out the harness before you have a fire.

it possibly could be your ignition switch going bad...
it heats up & the heat transfers to the wire
feel the back of it when your wire gets hot....
if it is... time for change

I noticed that on mine the other day...
Wasnt too hot to hold but she was warm....
Disconnected the bat til i get a chance to look at it.

Yes, it is normal for the ignition wire to get really hot while a vehicle is running (even hotter when the key is on and the points are closed and the engine is not running!). It is supposed to, it is part of the design. The wire is a resistor wire which is made to reduce voltage and a byproduct of resistance is heat. The wire used for the ignition is actually made of a special wire with special insulation and is designed for this application so never replace it with standard wire unless you add a ballast resistor. What you are experiencing is normal and nothing to be concerned about. Now, having said all of that, if the wire is so hot that it melts the insulation, you have an issue! Once you let the smoke out of the wire it is next to impossible to get it back in! LOL Hawkrod

Hawkrod wrote:Once you let the smoke out of the wire it is next to impossible to get it back in!

Tks. Guys I'll keep an eye on it. But it can't hurt to put a new switch in.