SPONSORED LINKS

1965 Impala 283 ballast resistor help neeed

Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
I have a 1965 Chevrolet Impala with 283 w/ an entirely new ignition set-up (new distributor, cap, wires, points, coil, etc.). When hooking up the ignition to the coil (+) there is 12V. I recently purchased a new ballast resistor (BWD RU4) and hooked it up with the ignition on 1 side and the coil on the other. Now the resisitor is reading +8V on the ignition side and +1V to the coil side. I am confused because the resistor is designed for the car, but it should only drop the voltage to +6-9V. I am not sure why it is falling all the way to +1V. I went back to a diffrent auto store and got a 2nd ballast resistor with the same results. On another note, if I attempt to bypass the resistor and go straight to the coil the car starts but the starter continues to run in a loop (the starter is also connect to the coil (+)).
SPONSORED LINKS
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 7:04 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Why would the starter be connected to the coil?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Origional wiring was resistor wire from ignition to coil. Has that been replaced?Wire to starter solenoid provides 12V when starting to coil then when key released voltage to coil is through resistence wire so points will last longer not pit. How are you checking voltage ie. Meter lead placement. Does purple wire go to "S" terminal on starter solenoid?
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
If the starter trigger and the resister wire are both connected the the + side of the coil, then the resister wire will send power to the starter trigger when running. Not what you would want so I don't see why you have a starter wire at the coil.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I am not sure if the resistance wire has been replaced. The ignition wire is a thin ( 14 or 16 gauge) wire that is wrapped in white insulation. I originally was going straight to the coil with this wire and getting 12V but no spark. I then checked the wiring diagram from the manual and it shows 2 wires going to the (+) of the coil. The 1st being the ignition wire and the 2nd going to the terminal of the starter (the terminal has a purple/black wire closest to the engine).
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:00 PM
Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Also, I am checking with a voltmeter
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:02 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
There should be nothing connecting the coil to the starter. The purple wire goes to the ignition switch "start" trigger through the neutral safety switch. The coil should have 2 wires from the ignition switch. Once from the "start" output with 12v in start only and a resister wire from the ignition switch in "run" only so the engine starts on 12v and runs on 8v.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
What is the best way to tell if a wire is a 'resister wire'?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Measure the voltage at the end of the wire with the key on and the wire disconnected. The one with the white cover should be the resister wire.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Please reread my first post I explain how it is wired. Wire to starter solenoid MUST be on "R" terminal. The pruple wire from ignition for starting is on the "S" terminal. Remove brown wire from coil + key in run what is voltage?If @8V then do not need ballast resistor other wire on coil + remove check voltage in key start position should be 12v. Trust me I'm 61 and was around working on this car although alot younger
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I appreciate all the help. I will try these steps tonight and report out tomorrow. Thank you very much!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 8:47 PM
Tiny
CRAZYJAY1998
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks that helped A LOT. I now have 12V cranking and 8V running. However now my car fires when starting but dies once I release the ignition from start to run. Is this timing related?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 22nd, 2010 AT 1:39 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
That means there is a problem with the resister wires coming from the ignition switch
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 22nd, 2010 AT 1:41 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Blower Fan Resistor Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links