RHD 3000M ballast resistor location
Discussion
Hello
I fitted electronic ignition yesterday which works ok. But in the instructions it tells me that "if" my vehicle has a ballast resistor I need to bypass it.
I have no idea if I have one. But i do have a weird ceramic tube wired into the loom under the screen wash reservoir and I have no idea what it is or for. Is this the resistor... why is it on the opposite side from the coil ?
Can someone e please clarify for me
Ta
L
I fitted electronic ignition yesterday which works ok. But in the instructions it tells me that "if" my vehicle has a ballast resistor I need to bypass it.
I have no idea if I have one. But i do have a weird ceramic tube wired into the loom under the screen wash reservoir and I have no idea what it is or for. Is this the resistor... why is it on the opposite side from the coil ?
Can someone e please clarify for me
Ta
L
Edited by laikathedog on Tuesday 25th November 10:00
You need to clarify the car (engine bay pictures help).... rather than 'bypass' the ballast, you need to be wiring to the correct side of the ballast IF you are running one.
You need to start the car and get it warm (so it is running FIRST) remove BOTH both wires form the ballast (the 74 car is green and under the washer bottle) and when it is disconnected, try running the car (it should not run) then test the wires to find the wire with the 12v supply (it should be white) IF this is as I say THEN put your 12V supply from the ignition there.
Adrian@
I looked on your profile for the year...and the resistor has no relationship to the coil on cars with separate starter solenoids the 12v cold start is fed directly from the solenoid and is the same wire that comes from the ignition key, it is only when the solenoid is on the starter that TVR attach a jump lead off the ballast to the coil.
You need to start the car and get it warm (so it is running FIRST) remove BOTH both wires form the ballast (the 74 car is green and under the washer bottle) and when it is disconnected, try running the car (it should not run) then test the wires to find the wire with the 12v supply (it should be white) IF this is as I say THEN put your 12V supply from the ignition there.
Adrian@
I looked on your profile for the year...and the resistor has no relationship to the coil on cars with separate starter solenoids the 12v cold start is fed directly from the solenoid and is the same wire that comes from the ignition key, it is only when the solenoid is on the starter that TVR attach a jump lead off the ballast to the coil.
Edited by Adrian@ on Tuesday 25th November 10:31
Mine looked remotely like this...
Although dirty!
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...
If you have on you'll soon figure!
Although dirty!
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...
If you have on you'll soon figure!
BUT Vixen's through to '74 M's had a petite green version which was sited on the drivers foot well wall, under the washer bottle...they were like this until the wiring looms started being made in black wire. They were mounted onto the shell with little Z clamps using cross head screws, then latched into each end of the wire wound ceramic tube, about 1/2 the length of the Ashley-Hinton heater resistor, that are mounted inside the fan housing.
Adrian@
Adrian@
Just a thought - perhaps Adrian can confirm - but from somewhere around Cortina mk3/4 Ford went to a Blue Sleeved resistance wire as ballast, which is what's in the 2.8 wedges.
Don't know if M ever had this ??
That unit in the photo was also used in Triumphs for quite a while too (as I remember)
Don't know if M ever had this ??
That unit in the photo was also used in Triumphs for quite a while too (as I remember)
Hi Frank..Fine thanks, we hope you and yours are fine.
The first time I saw them connected to a TVR was the 2.8 Tasmins, although they use the oblong ceramic resistors for dim dip headlamps, one for each headlamp.
The resistor wire goes way back, in that I remember that our Mk1 Escort ran one within the loom (I presume that they were colour coded, as I am sure that the MK1 was grey).
I have seen the wires strapped across the front chassis tube on M Series as part of the heater half speed system.
AND I still use the ceramic version for the heater 1/2 speed on the Taimar/S in the inner wing fan conversion.
Adrian@
The first time I saw them connected to a TVR was the 2.8 Tasmins, although they use the oblong ceramic resistors for dim dip headlamps, one for each headlamp.
The resistor wire goes way back, in that I remember that our Mk1 Escort ran one within the loom (I presume that they were colour coded, as I am sure that the MK1 was grey).
I have seen the wires strapped across the front chassis tube on M Series as part of the heater half speed system.
AND I still use the ceramic version for the heater 1/2 speed on the Taimar/S in the inner wing fan conversion.
Adrian@
Adrian@ said:
Hi Frank..Fine thanks, we hope you and yours are fine.
The first time I saw them connected to a TVR was the 2.8 Tasmins, although they use the oblong ceramic resistors for dim dip headlamps, one for each headlamp.
The resistor wire goes way back, in that I remember that our Mk1 Escort ran one within the loom (I presume that they were colour coded, as I am sure that the MK1 was grey).
I have seen the wires strapped across the front chassis tube on M Series as part of the heater half speed system.
AND I still use the ceramic version for the heater 1/2 speed on the Taimar/S in the inner wing fan conversion.
Adrian@
Yeah, I know that the blue wires were lifted straight from the Cortina/Capri/Granada with the DuraSpark units, don't know if earlier ones had a different colour, but it would make sense....My 2.3 Cortina with points had a blue wire.The first time I saw them connected to a TVR was the 2.8 Tasmins, although they use the oblong ceramic resistors for dim dip headlamps, one for each headlamp.
The resistor wire goes way back, in that I remember that our Mk1 Escort ran one within the loom (I presume that they were colour coded, as I am sure that the MK1 was grey).
I have seen the wires strapped across the front chassis tube on M Series as part of the heater half speed system.
AND I still use the ceramic version for the heater 1/2 speed on the Taimar/S in the inner wing fan conversion.
Adrian@
I didn't think Escort mk1 had a 6v coil...was it a Mexico or GT type ? Interesting fact to file away
Yeah, I've seen those ceramic modules in heater 2 speed setups, BL/Triumph ign coil ballasts, but not as a headlamp dim dip.... fair enough.
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