RE: Overheated coil

[Kevin Merkley <krmerkley@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I have a four post ballast resistor on my 64 Dodge.

It was used with the original 5 terminal Mopar ECU (I got mine from a 78 
truck).  Since the original ECU came out, they were rewired (internally) 
to use only 4 terminals and the need for the four post ballast resistor 
went away.  (I bought an ECU from the Mopar dealer and it was 4 
terminal).

I was also at Moparfest on Saturday and saw a car wired with only two 
terminals of the four terminal ballast resistor in use.  The two 
resistors in the four terminal unit have different resistances.  Check 
which resistor matches the two terminal ballast resistor and use that 
set of terminals.

This assumes that you have a four terminal ECU.  If you have a 5 
terminal ECU you need the four terminal ballast resistor.

I keep a spare 4 terminal unit in the glove box so no matter which style 
of ECU I have it is wired correctly.  I put the 4 terminal ECU in the 
car and kept the 4 terminal ballast resistor.  No problem.  I was told 
that the ECU simply ignores the terminals it does not need.

Regards,

K.

crhubling@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> Hi Dan.  First of all I live in Waterdown which is close to Hamilton.  I 
> was 
> at the Moparfest as well on the Saturday and on the way home it died - 
> hence 
> the nice tow charge.
> 
> I was up north this weekend at a cottage and attended a cruise and 
> talked to 
> a few with mopars and noone had a 4 post to look at.  All had the two 
> post.  
> I have bought on ebay an electronic ballast resistor as well as a new 
> coil 
> at the show last weekend.
> 
> It came from a kit with a two post.  The new mopar ballast resistor I 
> got 
> last week is four post. I will hook everything up but use the two post 
> ballast resistor and try that again.  If it runs into problems I will 
> change 
> the ballast resistor next weekend when I'm in Niagara Falls as well as 
> pick 
> up an extra ECU.   You're right about the reading of .1 ohm.  I will 
> check 
> that as well.  Talking to the guys this week at the cruise one thing 
> they 
> suggested to check which I will do, is to make sure the connections are 
> right on the resistor as to the "run" and "start" wires.  I wired it 
> according the diagram with the kit and my service manula but I will go 
> back 
> out and check it again.
> 
> I'll keep everyone posted as to what happens - thanks everyone for the 
> help 
> and suggestions.
> 
> Cameron
> 
> >From: Dan McCormack <mcwheels@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Reply-To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
> >To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: Re: Overheated coil
> >Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:16:51 -0400
> >
> >
> >I'm not sure what to tell you on the ballast resistor wiring Cameron. 
> >All 
> >the cars that I've converted to electronic ignition was with the MP kit 
> >and 
> >they still used a single ballast resistor. My 63 Fury was already 
> >converted 
> >when I bought it with what looks to be a stock system from a newer Mopar 
> >
> >and it does have a double resistor. Did you convert yours with a system 
> >from a donor Mopar that used a double resistor and only have a single in 
> >
> >there now? Or maybe the resistor is wired wrong. I'm wondering if that's 
> >
> >why your coils are overheating.  Btw Auto Zone sells an inexpensive 
> >Wells 
> >replacement ECU for Mopars too. I carry one as a spare in all my cars 
> >along 
> >with a spare ballast resistor.
> >
> >Whereabouts are you in Canada? I live just south of Buffalo also about 
> >40 
> >minutes from Niagara Falls. I was just in your great country last 
> >weekend 
> >for Moparfest in New Hamburg. Great show, one of my favorites.
> >
> >Dan
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- From: "Cameron Hubling" 
> ><crhubling@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx>
> >Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 3:10 PM
> >Subject: Re: Overheated coil
> >
> >
> >>
> >>Thanks Dan.  I bought the Mopar ballast resistor yesterday at a Mopar 
> >>show 
> >>as well as a new coil.  I can't seem to get the electronic voltage 
> >>regulator that looks like the old one (so I don't have to change the 
> >>alternator to the dual wiring if I use a new style with plug switch) 
> >>however I will pick one up at Autozone like you mentioned when I cross 
> >>the 
> >>border in two weeks at Niagara Falls.  Luckily I'm only an 40 minutes 
> >>away.  It's not easy to get parts at times here in Canada.  All our 
> >>parts 
> >>store for the most part stop at 1975 or they haven't a clue about a 
> >>Plymouth.
> >>
> >>I should probably as well pick up a new orange box when I'm there to 
> >>cover 
> >>off all the bases.
> >>
> >>Another quick question I'll put out to you and the rest - the new 
> >>ballast 
> >>resistor is the four terminal type and the other one I have is the 2 
> >>terminal. Does anyone have a diagram of how to wire it or do I just take 
> >>
> >>the wires at the top of the old one and attach them to the two top and 
> >>vice-versa for the bottom?
> >
> >
> >----
> >Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- 
> >directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and 
> >negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended 
> >recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will 
> >protect 
> >your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content 
> >signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!
> >
> >'62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
> >http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html. 
> >
> >
> 
> 



Kevin R. Merkley
Thunder Bay, Ontario
64 Dodge 440 2dr HT (Cdn)
64 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible (Cdn)


----
Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!

'62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html.