Just tookmy 1965 coupe off the charger and now nothiong electrical works. Car won't crank. Won't even turn over. No heqadlights, interior lights, nothing. Cigarette lighter still works. That is the only thing electrical I can get to operate. Any ideas ?

 

does the car make a ticking sound when you attempt to crank?
if it does then your circuit is not continuous, check the contacts make sure there on tight and connected to the solenoid tightly. if it doesnt crank then either a wires bad or your batteries shot. if you get the car started and the electrical still doesnt work then check the fuses next to the pedals.

 

That's bizarre. It should be all or nothing, the fact that the lighter works throws everything off. It's not a Bic is it? Kidding.

Because the lighter works it seems as if there's significant potential at the battery. Every other indication points to a dead battery so there's a conflict. The interior lights that don't work use a lot less current than the lighter that does, but they both receive power through the main firewall connector.

Electrical problems often seem to defy explanation and can be fixed without a concrete solution, in other words sometimes they just disappear after everything is gone through, so starting at square one is not a bad idea. If I were you, before I start ripping stuff apart I'd try jumping the car or replacing the battery with a known good one and see where that gets you. Next would be voltage readings across the battery as each circuit was closed.

What was the car's electrical status when you hooked the charger up?

As MustangFTW said, check all fuses and connections first.

Here's the wiring diagram page listed in the FAQs. Early Mustang Wiring Diagrams.

 

my cigarette lighter was unfused, if that's the same in yours then just check the fuses first

 

if this is true then you have your problem, be careful with the fuses there fragile.

 

A quick way to tell if you have good battery is to turn the headlights on. if they come on the battery has some charge. The next step is to crank the engine with the headlights on (or attempt) if the light dim out its a battery or connection issue. if there is no change in brightness, it's usually a start circuit issue. if you pull the headlights on and there is no light, its probably a battery or connection issue.