Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

M

MI_Thumb_2010

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
34
:confused:
Summer2010068.jpg


1976 Thompson 302 Ford - Need to know what this thing is..its attached to the motor and has 3 wires going to it.left side 1 wire right side 2 wires and gets hot if i leave the key turned on to long.Its ceramic and has a coiled wire with solid material inside,well its must have got too hot and the coil split in the center.Please help none of my dash lights or blower is working and have plans to watch fireworks on the lake with the family tonight.

Summer2010069.jpg
 
B

big_b

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Apr 21, 2010
Messages
77
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

It is a balast resistor. It limits volvtage.. Usually goes to the points in the distibutor, I believe to reduce voltage to around 9V

That is for sure what it is ... If you converted to electronic ignition like I have .. it is not needed ...
 
B

big_b

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
77
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

by the way ... you can get them at any auto parts store .. they are pretty much universal ... Happy 4th !
 
M

MAXXIE

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

I wish I saw this post earlier, that's what it is all right. I had the same thing in my 1974 Plymouth 'Cuda, The damn thing stopped running one day, everything worked- cranked over, lights, radio, just would not start. A buddy of mine said did I check the balist resistor & sure enough it had poped like a fuse. Swapped it out, fired right up. Always had an extra in the glovebox just in case..Sorry to catch post so late.
 
X

xeddog

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 23, 2009
Messages
182
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

I had an old 1970something Dodge van that kept blowing those SOBs. Started keeping TWO of them in my glove box.

Wayne
 
waterinthefuel

waterinthefuel

Commander
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
2,728
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

The key is you said it gets hot with the engine off. The only way to make heat with electricity is through resistance.
 
D

dlngr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
547
Re: Can somebody tell me what this is????PLEASE

It's a ballast resistor.It reduces voltage.It is probably used to reduce your battery voltage down 3 or 4 volts for your ignition coil. From looking at the little curled wire inside,it appears that your ballast resistor is burned up.
I too used to drive old Mopars,always carried a spare resistor or 2 in the glove box,like exeddog said.
 
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