New to a Sprite, dash switches...

[robdmau]

Ok I feel really silly asking this but I just bought a new battery thinking that was my issue. SO the car has sat in the garage all this week, and its dead! So the only thing I can think of is that I am leaving switches on in the dash...

Can someone please tell me which way is on and off sense there are no labels?

 

[smaceng]

Down is usually off....but did a PO turn it the wrong way?
Most all the switches turn off with the ignition, except the lights and horn. Did you turn your stereo off? Does it stay on when the ignition switch is turned off?
Good luck
Scott in CA.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

And... from another thread : is there a light in your boot (trunk)

 

[Gerard]

Can someone please tell me which way is on and off sense there are no labels?

Off position is usually down on ones that have a vertical stroke. However, it could be any number of things. I would try testing if you have a drain when everything is switched of by removing a battery cable and touching it to the post in a dimly lit, quiet place. If you see or hear a spark, something is drawing current. You'll have to go around with a volt meter and see what's still getting current with the key off. The other way is to disconnect wires one-by-one from the fuse block and see when the sparking quits. Pull one fuse at a time to see which circuit it's on. The fuse supplied by the brown wire is hot even when the key is off, the circuit supplied with the white wires is switched by the ignition key.

Another thing you can do is add a battery cut off switch.

 

[Sarastro]

This might be a good time to invest $7.95 in a multimeter from Harbor Freight. You can then measure the battery current when you think everything is off. The problem of current drains when everything is supposedly "off" is a pretty common problem. Best way to find it is to hook up an ammeter, and start disconnecting things one by one until you isolate the problem. Then, work back through the circuit to see where the problem is.

 

[robdmau]

Down is usually off....but did a PO turn it the wrong way?
Most all the switches turn off with the ignition, except the lights and horn. Did you turn your stereo off? Does it stay on when the ignition switch is turned off?
Good luck
Scott in CA.

What do you mean? reversing the positive?

If thats what you mean then yes, thats been done. From what I can see the head lights turn off with the switches up... Some thing is going on that is causing this to drain :frown:

 

[robdmau]

And... from another thread : is there a light in your boot (trunk)

Checked the truck, did not see a light anywhere

 

[robdmau]

This might be a good time to invest $7.95 in a multimeter from Harbor Freight. You can then measure the battery current when you think everything is off. The problem of current drains when everything is supposedly "off" is a pretty common problem. Best way to find it is to hook up an ammeter, and start disconnecting things one by one until you isolate the problem. Then, work back through the circuit to see where the problem is.

Ya thats what I am thinking... I was just hoping it was as easy as switching the switches the right way lol :frown:

 

[spritenut]

If this is a 65 Sprite, up is off.
Down turns on the lights and dash lights with no key on. The wiopers are on if the switch is down and the key is on.

 

[robdmau]

If this is a 65 Sprite, up is off.
Down turns on the lights and dash lights with no key on. The wiopers are on if the switch is down and the key is on.

Cool, thanks... I may have found the issue, the last owner had some big aircraft landing lights hidden on the grill and he had a switch mounted next to the steering wheel... I will find out in a few days if I found the issue