Where do you put a ballast resistor?

Note: Ballast resistors are usually located bolted to the firewall if your distributor and/or coil is at the rear of the engine. If your distributor is located near the front or side of the engine in the case of an inline-4 cylinder, then it’s probably right near the ignition coil or distributor.

Can you run a coil with a ballast resistor?

You can however use such coils provided you remove the ballast resister. Never try to run a ballasted coil when a ballast resistor is not present in the ignition system! Can I fit a Powerspark Electronic Ignition Kit if I have a ballast resistor?

What are the symptoms of a bad ballast resistor?

The most obvious symptoms will be the vehicle starts, but then immediately dies as soon as you release the key. If this happens, the professionals at YourMechanic will be able to measure the voltage coming from the ballast resistor and determine if you need a replacement.

Do you need to change ballast resistive wire?

If you have a ballast coil installed with a ballast resistive wire or a ceramic block then you can keep the coil as it is, there is no need to change it BUT if you change the coil you do need to match it to a ballast if one is present and not bypassed.

How are ballast resistors used in spark plugs?

A Ballast Resistor is an electrical device that reduces voltage to the coil so that more energy is available for the spark plugs during starting.

Where do you put a ballast resistor?