More ignition issues on the dart

HOW THE IGN1 / IGN2 circuits work

1....The "Run" line from the key is hot ONLY IN the "run" position. It is DEAD during ACC or "START". DEAD

It feeds through the bulkhead, and depending on year/ model, feeds the ignition system via the ballast resistor, branches off to feed the light blue field wire to the alternator, the power terminal of the ignition box, the IGN terminal of the VR, smog doo dads on some years. IT IS NOT fused

The ballast on 4 terminal resistors, feeds the + side of the coil (just like breaker points) and the other side feeds the ECU box. THIS IS NOT USED with the later boxes, known as "4 pin boxes" which can use EITHER a 2 or 4 pin resistor

AGAIN THIS RUN POWER GOES DEAD during start

2....The IGN2 line is fed from a separate dedicated contact off the igntion switch JUST like the "start" wire. When the key is twisted to "START" the yellow start wire is live and triggers the start relay

The (normally brown) bypass/ IGN2 wire feeds from the ign switch, through the bulkhead, and to the coil + side of the ballast resistor. THIS IS LIVE IN START

HOW DOES the ignition box get power during start??? With power fed to the + side of the coil, power is BACKFED through the ballast resistor to the ECU box during cranking. So the box does NOT GET full battery power during cranking but the coil DOES so