Coil Again,

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Thu Apr 28, 05 11:28 pm

Help required as serious depression is setting in.

I have stock Chrysler electronic ignition,with orange box.
I have 12 volts going into the + side and 3 volts coming out of the - side of the coil.If idisconect the wire from the- side,switch on the ignition and then go to re- conect the wire,there is a large spark as you make contact,as if there is a large current draw.However the wire on the - side only goes from the coil to the orange box.Ihave run another wire in case the original one was shorting but its all the same.I have tried another coil and a brand new orange box but to no avail.
If some one could help me solve this then they could be in for a bumper beer sesion at the Nats!!!And just to prove how desperate i am this offer extends to Trev D!!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 8:59 am

With the ignition switch on (not in the start position) you shouldn't have 12volts at the coil it's too high.

Have you had the ballast off and reconnected it the wrong way round???

On the ballast the coil connection should be piggybacked off of the wire that is live when the key is in the start position.

The wire that is live when the key is in the run position goes to the other side of the ballast

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Apr 29, 05 9:15 am

When you say you have volts going in and volts coming out it shows you don't understand what voltage is mate or how a resistance divideds voltage.

You need help from someone that does understand basic electronics. Otherwise you will be taking all day to work out something a sparky can see in one min flat.

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Apr 29, 05 9:21 am

I know where you are coming from...I'm electronically dyslexic I simply do one wire at a time and put an ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter across everything.

It means it takes nearly two months to wire a Road Runner, but I only had one small fire

I didn't know you could get a ballast resister around the wrong way either!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 9:44 am

Ivor you can't get the ballast round the wrong way it doesn't matter which terminals you use but the coil supply should be off of the start wire not the run wire.

Get them the wrong way round and you're giving the coil battery voltage when the car is running (which is TOO high) and whatever resistance the ballast is (some are 5volts) when you start the car (which is too low)

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 10:09 am

If the coil supply is taken off of the right wire there should not be 12volts at the coil when the key is in the run position.

The ballast can burn out giving no voltage at the coil so it aint burnt out as you've got 12V

If the ballast is corroded the resistance will be higher so the voltage at the coil will be lower than it should be, so it aint that as you've got 12v

the only things that could cause 12v at the coil with the key in the run position is

coil supply off of the run wire
ballast linked out with a jumper wire
Permanant battery voltage at the start wire no matter where the key is

no doubt there's more but these spring to mind

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Apr 29, 05 12:33 pm

WOOSH!

(that was most of that lot going over my head!)

Though I'm beginning to understand it...now, is Rich sorted?

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Fri Apr 29, 05 8:21 pm

Thanks for the help guys,Dave you are right I dont understand.Thats probably most of the problem..
Does anyone have a wiring diagram of Chrysler elec ign?My Charger book only goes upto 1970 and does not cover elec.There was a diagram in an old thread from Dave but bits seemed to be missin a few bits...
What voltage should I expect to see in the crancking and run positions??

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 8:33 pm

here's a diagram

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 8:35 pm

oops just a little to big
sorry

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 29, 05 8:44 pm

The wire from the loom that the coil is piggybacked onto should only be live when the key is in the start position

the other side of the ballast will be live when the key is in the run position with the ecu wire piggybacked of it

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Sat Apr 30, 05 9:02 am

Cheers Neil,the bigger the better!!