Built In Ballast Resistor In Ignition Coil

Somethings wired wrong but the hei conversion I told you about will eliminate a lot of old wiring plus give you better results. Cant believe you didnt order the kit yet, its like a $100. and easy to install.

With due respect he really should work out WTH is wrong with it at present before he "adds more troubles"

The thing is you have THREE threads and they all seem to be about the same problem.


1--WHAT do you have for wiring diagrams/ shop manual?

2--WHY are you using a "push start?"

3--If you have the ballast properly wired in, and the coil WHEN RUNNING is still running as high as you say, then the brown bypass circuit from the ignition switch is probably wired wrong, or problems in the switch

If you are going to fix this WE NEED MORE DETAILS. You need to sit up, pay attention, and keep this in one thread so people can follow along with "what you have" and "what you have done"

Go HERE and download the factory 72 Plymouth service manual, which as posted by AbodyJoe and is FREE

[ame]http://www.abodyjoe.com/pictures/Misc.%20car%20info/1972%20Plymouth%20Chassis%20Serv%20Man.pdf[/ame]


Simpler but not always complete, and not always correct diagrams at MyMopar

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1972/72DartA.JPG

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1972/72DartB.JPG

Now the original factory Mopar ignition switch is the "key" (no pun intended) to the whole deal. Ferd, GM, AMC used separate contacts in the starter solenoid to bypass the ballast resistor during "start."

Refer to the diagram below. I am assuming (maybe wrong) that you have a 2 pin resistor and the newer 4 pin ECU. In the diagram below, the top right wire marked "s" start is the BROWN ballast bypass coming from the ignition switch

The lower right marked "R" run is the switched ignition supply coming from the switch

Here's how the switch works.

Your ignition switch is SEVERAL completely separate switches in the can that we call "the ignition switch."

You have power coming into the switch from the battery buss, hot all the time, this will be the largest RED going to the switch connector

You have switched ACCESSORY coming OUT of the switch, hot in both "run" and "accessory." This is the large BLACK coming out

For "ignition run" you have what Ma calls IGN1, or we call "ignition run" traditionally dark blue. This is hot ONLY in run, and feeds power to the cluster gauges and warning lights and comes out through the bulkhead to feed the alternator field, regulator, and ignition system, THE RUN WIRE in the diagram below. On some cars, it feeds electric choke, and smog doo dads

For "start" which only operates the starter, we have the YELLOW start wire, comes from the switch, out through the bulkhead, and to the start relay. On cars which have seat belt interlocks, the yellow goes through the reset box, which you can bypass. The start wire is hot only in start

For "ignition bypass" which Ma calls "IGN2" we have the brown, comes from the switch, out through the bulkhead and to the coil side of the ballast. This is THE START WIRE in the diagram below, is hot only in start

Now to start finding out WTH is wrong, try this

Pull both connectors off the ballast resistor, and pull the connector off the ECU. Put your meter on the coil + terminal, and turn the key to "run" Tell us what you read. Should be zero volts

Hook wiring back up "normal" and with key in "run" but engine not running, measure voltage
A --at battery
B--both sides of ballast
C--at coil negative terminal