ignition light problem

[herb]

I have had to take the battery out and recharge it and now it has been reconnected the ignition warning light is on permenantly even before the ignition switch is thrown, the only way to turn it off is to deconnect the battery. Anyone any ideas? Thanks!

[Willie]

Do you have a Dynamo or an Alternator? What year is the car?
Why did the battery need charging? was it through standing idle
or because it failed to charge on the car? Finally, does the car
start and what effect does that have on the ignition light?

[herb]

The car is a 1956 Morris Minor series 2, with dynamo. It was on the road at the time ( and had been running very well) when it broke, down due to the battery being discharged.

I assumed it was the dynamo but have since found out that the discharge was as a result of the ignition being on even when key was turned to off.

The car still starts and runs ok, and the light turns off once the car has been switched on.

The battery seems to hold its charge well.

[Willie]

If the ignition switch stayed ON then your wipers,heater fan, and
stop lamps etc would still work and the ignition coil would have
burnt out. I think that your fault is either in the dynamo windings
or the control box. I can only suggest that you start by checking
the EARTH wire is making good contact with the bulkhead. This wire
goes from control box terminal 'E' into the wiring loom and emerges
about six inches lower down behind the vertical wiring loom where
it is earthed under a bolt, it must be a good earth. the control box
contains various windings and contacts which could,under certain
circumstances supply the ignition light with volts even when the
ignition switch is off. To check the regulator contacts DISCONNECT
THE BATTERY and then ensure that the points are open.(if you
close the cut out contacts with the battery still connected then
they will not release without a struggle). You can clean these points
but only very gently,no abrasives. See if any of that helps.

[rayofleamington]

The car still starts and runs ok, and the light turns off once the car has been switched on.

I'm not sure abut a 56, but the behaviour you describe is normal for the charging light on the Minor 1000. ie it's on until the engine is running.
However as you say things stay on when the key is off (including the charging light), then I would suggest it is in the electronics related to the ingnition switch NOT the dynamo.
As Willie mentioned - if all the ignition live wires stay powered, the coil would stay energised and 2 things would happen
1) the coil would burn out
2) the engine would keep running when you turn it off

So if your engine turns off - what things stay on??