can someone do me a favor??

TXcharger07 said

I've had an issue with my duster for quite sometime.. I have to run a wire from my battery to my coil to get it started and turn the switch off once it's going. Anyways, I checked the voltage on the coil today and it's only getting 3volts Key on,ignition off... that isn't normal is it?

74 duster.. 318, new distributor, new coil, new ballast resistor, new rotor and everything else seems fine..

can someone check on their similar vehicle and let me know what it should be?

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I don't have one to check however, you say: 3 volts with the key on, ignition off. By chance do you mean key on engine not running? The voltage seems low for a key on condition, the ballast resistor will drop voltage as it was dresigned to do but I believe it should be somewhere upwards of 7 volts. Is the new resistor a factory replacement?

For the no starting unless you use your special switch: When you put the ignition switch to the "start" position, it's designed to give a full 12 volts (or available battery voltage) to the + side of the coil (bypassing the ballast resistor) so you get a very hot spark to start the engine, then when you let off the key and it goes to the "Run" position the ballast resistor takes over and drops the voltage to the coil.

Does it run OK once it is running?