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Technical mysterious thing in my engine bay

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by miky2001, Feb 10, 2022.

  1. miky2001
    Joined: Nov 9, 2006
    Posts: 939

    miky2001
    Member
    from houston

    i see this mysterious thing in my engine bay, can someone tell me what it is?

    thanks in advance.


    mysreious tthing.jpg
     
    chryslerfan55 and dana barlow like this.
  2. Baumi
    Joined: Jan 28, 2003
    Posts: 3,360

    Baumi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That´s a ballast res***or for your ign coil. Usually drops the voltage to around 9V´s whenthe engine is running and has a byp*** to provide the full 12V during cranking and startup...
     
  3. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,303

    Budget36
    Member

    ^^^^Don’t listen to him, that’s your flux capacitor.
     
  4. 57 HEAP
    Joined: Aug 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,288

    57 HEAP
    Member

    If it's bad, the engine won't start/run.
     
    loudbang, Baumi and VANDENPLAS like this.
  5. down-the-road
    Joined: Aug 19, 2012
    Posts: 22,160

    down-the-road
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, ballast resistor for the ignition circuit. It might also be part of the flux capacitor circuit for those times when you are traveling precisely 88 mph and trying to catch the energy of a lightning bolt to go back to the future!
    When my ballast resistor went bad the engine would start, but die as soon as I released the key from the start position. The ballast resistor is not in the circuit when cranking to start the engine. It is in the ignition circuit when the key is in the run position.
     
  6. NashRodMan
    Joined: Jul 8, 2004
    Posts: 1,989

    NashRodMan
    Member

    Keep a spare in the glove box cuz they do go bad at the most inopportune time?
     
    mr57, 550Coupe, Ford52PU and 3 others like this.
  7. down-the-road
    Joined: Aug 19, 2012
    Posts: 22,160

    down-the-road
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    A neighbor had a spare mounted to the firewall so he could just move the wires over and get back on the road!
     
    WalkerMD, 49ratfink, WB69 and 4 others like this.
  8. brading
    Joined: Sep 9, 2019
    Posts: 832

    brading
    Member

    These work with a ballast resistor coil which normally runs at around 9V and 12v at engine start. The idea is that you have a fatter spark at start up. If you run a ballast resistor coil at 12v all the time you will burn it out
     
    chryslerfan55 and down-the-road like this.
  9. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,303

    Budget36
    Member

    Why are you repeating things I told you next year?
     
    theHIGHLANDER, clem, 1pickup and 13 others like this.
  10. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,890

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hooked up a Flux Capacitor to my microwave...and my burrito disappeared into the future...ate a ham sandwich instead.
     
  11. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,303

    Budget36
    Member

    Jack, that’s NOT ham, see a doctor immediately!
     
  12. 325w
    Joined: Feb 18, 2008
    Posts: 6,496

    325w
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Don’t touch one after the engine has been running for a while. They get really!, Hot.
    Yes I did.
     
    clem, chryslerfan55 and 427 sleeper like this.
  13. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,890

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    LOL, ya know Mike, coulda been ham...coulda been cheese...once them slices get all fury and greenish, they all look (and taste) alike:eek:
     
  14. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 4,326

    rusty valley
    Member

    That one looks like OEM from an early import car. They rarely fail.
     
    Tman likes this.
  15. miky2001
    Joined: Nov 9, 2006
    Posts: 939

    miky2001
    Member
    from houston

    ballast resistor for my ign. coil.

    can i eliminate it? i am running hei distributor, there is no "coil"

    thanks, and forgive my stupidity!!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Deuces like this.
  16. fordflambe
    Joined: Apr 9, 2007
    Posts: 574

    fordflambe
    Member

    Be very, very, careful..........You are giving away your age...............
     
    Budget36 likes this.
  17. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,684

    Deuces

    Don't sweat it Miky!!!!.... These HAMS on here like to joke around.....;):)
     
  18. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,776

    Boneyard51
    Member

    Yes you can and should eliminate it if you are running an HEI. The HEI needs a full 12 volts to operate right and likes a 12 gauge wire!






    Bones
     
  19. The best thing that ever came from a Dodge !!!
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  20. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 6,062

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    If you dont have a coil , how do you fire the plugs ?
     
  21. PhilA
    Joined: Sep 6, 2018
    Posts: 2,107

    PhilA
    Member

    You call them into your office and give them the news.
     
    theHIGHLANDER, X-cpe, clem and 13 others like this.
  22. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,977

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Snagged from a Brit car site but the diagram explains things well.
    Note that the resistor is in the wire from the switch and the red wire is the resistor byp*** wire from the solenoid. Ballast resistor circuit.jpg
     
  23. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,303

    Budget36
    Member

    I’m guessing coil in cap, vs external coil.
    OP is just finding his oats, so to speak.
     
    PhilA likes this.
  24. PhilA
    Joined: Sep 6, 2018
    Posts: 2,107

    PhilA
    Member

    Personally I would be more worried why there is a random piece of bell push wire attached to it.

    My guess is starter byp***.
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  25. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,516

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That's for the pro-theft switch.
     
    VANDENPLAS and chryslerfan55 like this.
  26. Fabulous50's
    Joined: Nov 18, 2017
    Posts: 513

    Fabulous50's
    Member
    from Maine

    Accept that is Lucas....nothing they make ever works! Ask and British car owner, Bosch all the way!
     
    Jibs and Baumi like this.
  27. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,516

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey now, come on! The smoke that they made worked just as good as any other smoke!
     
  28. 64 DODGE 440
    Joined: Sep 2, 2006
    Posts: 4,433

    64 DODGE 440
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from so cal

    The Lucas Badge of Honor. 1 Lucas Prince of Darkness.jpg
     
    Fabulous50's, joel and alanp561 like this.
  29. NoRust
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 149

    NoRust
    Member

    So, like yesterday it (mysterious thing) was not in your engine bay, and NOW it has just appeared today. That is totally freaky. Close the hood, maybe it will will just go away on it's own. If it is still there tomorrow ......
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2022
    ottoman likes this.
  30. Harv
    Joined: Jan 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,469

    Harv
    Member
    from Sydney

    Do I have to be an Alliance Member to get a HAMB sammich? :D

    Cheers,
    Harv
     
    Budget36 likes this.

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