4 pole ballast resistor/electronic ignition

[michael bucklew]

on 3rd ballast resistor. new one installed when hooking up wiring harness. no good. was very hot. tested no good at store. #2, first start on the rebuild. timed and adjusted carb. spent part of day starting engine.Been I shop for about 10 days everything was fine. Ralley gauges worked. tried starting motor today, ran for a while and quit. had the same symptoms as first resistor , fire, no run, very hot to touch. now, no start. can a non ballast resistor coil be used---?? first start problems. Year old battery failed, no good--fuel pump, not pumping--ballast resistor no good. had good first start day--all parts replaced by store..anybody else purchase bad parts?? Michael '71 challenger

 

[moparleo]

What type of ignition and fuel pump are you running ? Is everything stock replacement or "upgraded?"
Picture of what you are working on.
Is problem just that it starts and then shuts off and won't start again?
Recent work done on car ? Did it run fine before ?

 

[Chryco Psycho]

MOst only require a 2 pin resister as the second side is not used anyway with most ECU boxes , Chinese stuff is all junk

 

[michael bucklew]

What type of ignition and fuel pump are you running ? Is everything stock replacement or "upgraded?"
Picture of what you are working on.
Is problem just that it starts and then shuts off and won't start again?
Recent work done on car ? Did it run fine before ?

1. electronic ignition. upgrade from 71 Mallory duel point. all wires match correct color on wiring diagram. stock mechanical fuel pump--plenty of gas.
2. will not start now..ran once for about a minute, them shut down. crank and did fire, but no run. 10 timed and tuned. spent most of day starting and let motor run.
3 brand new rebuilt 318 bored .30 over. 360 heads, milled .30, large valves--used before rebuild. edelbrock intake, Holley 750 carb

 

[michael bucklew]

on 3rd ballast resistor. new one installed when hooking up wiring harness. no good. was very hot. tested no good at store. #2, first start on the rebuild. timed and adjusted carb. spent part of day starting engine.Been I shop for about 10 days everything was fine. Ralley gauges worked. tried starting motor today, ran for a while and quit. had the same symptoms as first resistor , fire, no run, very hot to touch. now, no start. can a non ballast resistor coil be used---?? first start problems. Year old battery failed, no good--fuel pump, not pumping--ballast resistor no good. had good first start day--all parts replaced by store..anybody else purchase bad parts?? Michael '71 challenger

eliminated the ballast resistor...went to a non resistor coil

 

[Litchkar]

Yes, most are Chinese junk, most people carry spares with them, along with spare voltage regulator and electronic module. Not like the old days when parts lasted forever.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Is your ECM 5 pin?

 

[Copilot]

Its normal for the ballast resistor to be hot, put a jumper wire across the ballast resistor see if it fires up. Quick test before replacing it.

 

[Cuda360-4]

Yes, most are Chinese junk, most people carry spares with them, along with spare voltage regulator and electronic module. Not like the old days when parts lasted forever.

I carry them around with me too, but I also carried them around 40 years ago when my 'Cuda was a daily driver. They always went bad, especially the module. The first time it went bad I was more than 100 miles from home and thank god I still had the old distributor with points in the trunk! I also always had a tool box in the trunk because something was always breaking down. I put it back in on the side of the highway and was able to get home.

 

[michael bucklew]

Is your ECM 5 pin?
View attachment 138018
View attachment 138019

Yes it is a 5 pin ECU. BUT I went to a non ballast resistor coil.. 2 pin or 4 pin no longer needed

 

[michael bucklew]

Yes it is a 5 pin ECU. BUT I went to a non ballast resistor coil.. 2 pin or 4 pin no longer needed

if it comes to this, I still have a Mallory dual point on the shelf