harkins@cires.UUCP (06/07/83)
ok gang, here goes: a ballast resistor is just a resistor, except it's a big sucker, so it'll dissipate some heat; sometimes they're built as a high resistance wire. what: it cuts the 12+ volts out of your ign switch down to about 8v, merely to lengthen the life of the points. (I'm speaking now in ignorance of whether these things exist, in general along with electronic igns, or what they would do specifically in tat that case). where: it goes in the so called primary ign circuit between the switch and the coil. Most cars have one somewhere, but there is also some cuteness: so the coil will max out at start-up time, there's usually another lead coming into the + side of the coil from the starter and/or solenoid, that SHOULD be hot only when the starter is cranking; this will be obvious if your car will start up, but immediately die when you let go of the key. As to why that Chrysler syndrome, i dunno, except to observe generally, that if you try to put too much current through a resistor, it will burn up, pronto. It might be some strange short in the solenoid though; that extra small wire coming off the solenoid is the one; you can take a circuit tester and satisfy yourself what's happening while someone else works the key. good luck. ernie