Help needed on instrument panel on 1939 Cadillac 60s

[Sleep Doctor]

I am the proud new owner of a 1939 Cadillac Model 60s. Last night after I parked it in the garage, I must have pulled/pushed some button ( driver's side under the dash at the far left side?) that drained the battery. Although, I have read the included instruction manual and looked on the GM heritage site, I cannot find a full description of the function of each switch/button.
Finally is the resource for modernizing the radio?

S. Newman

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

One thing, if you have the original (not aftermarket) 1939 radio in the car, do some checking before you "modernize" it. They are scarce and worth a lot of money to someone redoing his car for show. I mean, a LOT of money. Were I you, no more than you will probably be in the car and using a radio, I'd leave it alone or have it repaired, as it is a "one year only" radio. And you might even have a radio dealer offer to give you a changeover unit at no charge just to get his hands on yours.

Other than that, may I offer you a warm welcome to the Forum. I have just sold my 1941 60S this spring, and each time the new owner refers to it as "his" car, I get a twinge of regret. There will be others chiming in on how to fix your current (no pun intended) problem I'm sure. Best wishes, and again, welcome.

[Steve Passmore]

According to the wiring diagram you only have the instrument light switch under the dash, as this is only live when you have the lights operating I can't see this as being something to run your battery down unless you left your lights on?  Perhaps its just a bad battery.

[Hilarius]

There is the heater and ventilator fan switch mounted on the far left driver's side under the dash panel in case your car is equipped with a heater.
It is easy to accidently push that switch into an operating condition when leaving the car.
As far as I remember that switch is not connected to the ignition so if pushed right or left it operates also with the ignition off and can easily drain your battery overnight.
Hilmar.

[Steve Passmore]

You could be right there Hilmar as the wiring diagram does not show heater wiring.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

No matter what was left on, it sure doesn't take long to drain a battery, but have yours checked before going out and replacing it.

In modern cars, before they put in the automatic-turning-off interior or trunk light, the single bulb would drain a battery overnight.

Bruce.

[Steve Passmore]

Whats wrong with modern batteries these days then? When I was a kid it was illegal to park on some city streets without leaving you lights on and the battery had to take that.   Ford amongst other came up with an idea to help the batteries in the 60s whereby when the ign was off, whichever position you left the indicator stalk in, the lights on that side would stay on. Now it seems a courtesy light will drain it.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Don't forget that when you were a kid, cars had crank handles. ha ha.

But, seriously, it doesn't take much to drain a battery, and park lights are only 5 watts, whereas trunk lights are 21 watts.

But, he has just purchased the car, and heaven knows how old the battery is.

Bruce.

[Steve Passmore]

Don't forget that when you were a kid, cars had crank handles. ha ha.

Bruce.

    'Many a word spoken in jest'   My first one certainly did.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

My first two did, and they had the external switch under the rear tail light, so that whenever one went driving at night, one had to turn on the tail lights (and park lights) before getting into the car.   There was no excuse for not knowing you had no tail lights when pulled up by the police.

Plus, you also knew if you had a blown globe when you stopped for the night, as you had to turn them off upon leaving the car.

I think it might have been an Australian thing.   Ended around 1948 I think.

Bruce.