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Author Topic: Where is the Ballast Resistor?  (Read 4299 times)

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Offline pintoguy76

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Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« on: January 19, 2009, 03:33:49 PM »
Where is the ballast resistor at on a 74 wagon w 2.3? Im installing an MSD 6al to get rid of the points (the performance gain will be nice too) but MSD techs recommend removing the ballast resistor (which is a long wire in our cars) from the wire leading to the coil which is the wire used to control the ignition box. Where is it and how do i remove it. Pictures show it uses some type of push on connectors so it should but pull apart, but i need to know where it is and how to get to it. An help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Offline Pintosopher

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2009, 04:28:34 PM »
Pintoguy 76,
 According to my Clymer manual, It is a red with light green stripe (R- LG)wire beginning at the the connector block to the ignition switch and leading to the connector block to the engine compartment. This wire is the main connection to the Starter motor relay and to the ignition coil from the Ignition switch harness, I hope that you are supposed to replace it with a non- resistor wire. This is all significant only if the cars are wired similarly for 2.0L and 2.3L as the manual doesn't distinguish a difference. 

 If I've missed a schematic let me know,

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Offline billnall

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2009, 06:29:43 PM »
The red w/green stripe resistor wire should be 60" long between the ignition switch and the coil.
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Offline pintoguy76

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2009, 08:49:56 PM »
Is it all wadded up and wrapped in tape or what? 60" seems awfully long  to go from the switch to the coil.
1974 Ford Pinto Wagon with 1991 Mustang DIS EFI 2.3 and stock Pinto 4 Speed
 
1996 Chevy C2500 Suburban with 6.5L Turbo Diesel/4L80E 4x2

1980 Volvo 265 with 1997 S-10 4.3 and a modified 700R4

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Offline billnall

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2009, 03:18:21 PM »
I think it is all waded up some where in the loom. I think that it has to be that long to have the right resistance.
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Offline pintoguy76

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2009, 11:19:47 PM »
yes it has to be that long to reduce the voltage but i just wasnt sure if it was wadded up in there or if it was running thru the harness like a normal wire.
1974 Ford Pinto Wagon with 1991 Mustang DIS EFI 2.3 and stock Pinto 4 Speed
 
1996 Chevy C2500 Suburban with 6.5L Turbo Diesel/4L80E 4x2

1980 Volvo 265 with 1997 S-10 4.3 and a modified 700R4

2010 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x2 5.3 6L80E

Offline 71pintoracer

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2009, 08:03:13 AM »
yes it has to be that long to reduce the voltage but i just wasnt sure if it was wadded up in there or if it was running thru the harness like a normal wire.
I really can't remember on the Pinto but on some Fords they ran the wire all the way across the dash in the harness and then it did a 180 back across then out to the coil. I would just run a new wire from the R/LG at the ign switch instead of trying to take out the resistor wire.
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

Offline Drexx

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2013, 05:05:14 PM »
Does anybody know if i can replace this wire and if so what gauge wire should it be? I have one under the dash and it is ridiculously hot. It says it is a resistance wire on the outer insulation and it is red with a green stripe. I cant help but wonder if somebody has shortened this wire at some time and didn't know what they were doing. Does it go from the hot side of the coil and straight to the ignition as described earlier in this post.
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Offline Drexx

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2013, 07:42:20 PM »
Also I was wondering if I can just run a bigger wire out under the hood to a MSD .08 ballast resistor because I am using a MSD blaster 2 coil. Will this work? If not where can I get the resistance wire. Would an electrical supply store have it? What voltage should i have at the coil 9 or 10 or 12?
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Offline amc49

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2013, 09:07:45 PM »
Ballast wire is usually stainless steel so you can tell by wire color where it is. Can't tell with old hardened harness insulation but when new it flexes funny too, it won't bend and hold the bend as well as copper wire.

Offline dave1987

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2013, 09:12:55 PM »
Like 71pintoracer stated, I have seen it looped back across the dash on both my 78, and when I replaced it on the 73 wagon I sold to Dianne.
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Offline jeremysdad

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Re: Where is the Ballast Resistor?
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2013, 01:52:57 AM »
I would: first, ask MSD. They have customer support. If they tell you wrong, they'll pay to replace the wrong. We probably won't (no offense, I have 4 kids. :P) Second...as Dave said...that is how the stock Pinto resistor wire is looped. On my 72, it is Pink w/ Grn stripe. It's a stupid wire. I would bypass it, in it's entirety.

With an actual resistor, preferably hooked in-line with a +12 wire straight from the battery, per MSD specs.