One thing after another!

[worfdog]

That little black box on the side of the 88 and 89 festivas distributor, is a condenser or capacitor what ever you want to call it. It keeps electrical static down, so things like radios will not have static in them. I do not have one on my 88 festiva , and it runs just fine , been running with out it for a couple of years now.

[FB71]

That little black box is a radio suppression capacitor. It prevents electrical noise from the distributor interfering with the radio. It's not critical, and will not prevent the engine from running. It can be removed, with the only affect being static on the radio.

It is NOT a ballast resistor, and you will NOT cause any damage by removing it.

It sounds like you either have a weak/dying module (inside the distributor) or weak/dying coil.

[doylerl]

That little black box on the side of the 88 and 89 festivas distributor, is a condenser or capacitor what ever you want to call it. It keeps electrical static down, so things like radios will not have static in them. I do not have one on my 88 festiva , and it runs just fine , been running with out it for a couple of years now.

Thanks for letting me know. I was going to try to find another to replace it, but if yours runs fine without it, mine should too.

That little black box is a radio suppression capacitor. It prevents electrical noise from the distributor interfering with the radio. It's not critical, and will not prevent the engine from running. It can be removed, with the only affect being static on the radio.

It is NOT a ballast resistor, and you will NOT cause any damage by removing it.

It sounds like you either have a weak/dying module (inside the distributor) or weak/dying coil.

I was wondering if that was the ballast resistor that I have read about. Do these cars not have one? I was worried that I just fried something because i removed it. Any recommendations on a coil that doesn't need a ballast resistor added? I don't want to fry another one of these modules if my coil is too much. Right now, I am using an MSD Blaster II coil on it. Thanks for the help everyone. I have been really down in the dumps over not being able to get this thing up and running.

[FB71]

I was wondering if that was the ballast resistor that I have read about. Do these cars not have one? I was worried that I just fried something because i removed it. Any recommendations on a coil that doesn't need a ballast resistor added? I don't want to fry another one of these modules if my coil is too much. Right now, I am using an MSD Blaster II coil on it. Thanks for the help everyone. I have been really down in the dumps over not being able to get this thing up and running.

ah-ha! The MSD coil is the source of your problem.

to answer your first question, no, these cars don't have a ballast resistor. Ballast resistors were used on larger six and eight cylinder cars (typically) to offset the low resistance of the coils used. Low resistance coils (1.0 - 1.5 ohms avg) were used to decrease saturation time, because of the shorter time between ignition pulses (more cylinders = more pulses at same engine speed). Ballast resistors were used to limit current after saturation, to prevent overheating of the coil.

Carbed Festies use a coil with a resistance greater than 1.5 ohms. The higher resistance means the coil draws less current. This is important. The MSD Blaster is 0.8 ohms. It draws TWICE the current of the stock coil. This overheats the driver transistor inside the ignition module. Once overheated, its permanently damaged. You need to replace the module AND coil. If you cannot locate a suitable coil, at a price you are willing pay, you can simply add a 1.0 ohm ballast resistor in series with coil + terminal (between the wire and coil post). This will let you safely run the MSD coil with the stock module. Ballast resistors can be had from auto parts stores, or places like Summit, for a few dollars.

[bakerga1969]

fb 71 i like what you are doing. this site needs more people like you. that are willing to help . and not being a smart person or a no it all. because what comes around goes around.

[FB71]

thanks, but please watch the language.

Go easy on Monsoon, he does it all in fun. he's not mean-spirited.

[doylerl]

If you cannot locate a suitable coil, at a price you are willing pay, you can simply add a 1.0 ohm ballast resistor in series with coil + terminal (between the wire and coil post). This will let you safely run the MSD coil with the stock module. Ballast resistors can be had from auto parts stores, or places like Summit, for a few dollars.

Which wire going to the + side should I splice into for the resistor?

[FB71]

disconnect all the wires from the + side of the coil. Connect all of them to one side of the resistor (doesn't matter, not polarity conscious). Connect the other side of the resistor to the coil +.

[FestYboy]

i would imagine that he would need a 1-2.5W resistor for that function. radio shack would probably have to special order something like that though. and as for McAutoParts having a resistor, i havnt seen one in stock in a few years.

[doylerl]

disconnect all the wires from the + side of the coil. Connect all of them to one side of the resistor (doesn't matter, not polarity conscious). Connect the other side of the resistor to the coil +.

Thanks. I will have to try that.

edit: The general idea is a 1ohm resistor? Should I go bigger as festyboy suggests, or is the 1ohm sufficient? Thanks

[FB71]

NO!!! He needs a 150-200W resistor!! The Advance down here still stocks the old Mopar resistors. Mallory sells one that's perfect for his needs. Mallory p/n 700.

[FB71]

Thanks. I will have to try that.

edit: The general idea is a 1ohm resistor? Should I go bigger as festyboy suggests, or is the 1ohm sufficient? Thanks

Festyboy is calling out a Wattage, not a resistance. Big difference.

Use the one I just spec'd. Anything smaller than 100W will overheat and fail. Anything greater than 1.0-1.5 ohm will begin to degrade the firing voltage and spark duration.

[FestYboy]

that big? the last resistor i saw with that value was a ceramic coil wound tube that was over a foot long and 1.5" in dia. (used for audio amp testing)

[FB71]

that big? the last resistor i saw with that value was a ceramic coil wound tube that was over a foot long and 1.5" in dia. (used for audio amp testing)

that was probably 1000W. I have one or two of those around here... A 100W resistor is about the size of a half pack of cigs. 200W not much bigger.

[FB71]

also remember, there are two types of Wattage ratings;

Continuous and Surge/Peak. An ignition system would be surge/peak.