1.3 crossflow ignition

**Juddies** · 24-10-2020, 22:47

1977 Greece import 1.3 crossflow. Car cuts out, feels electrical to me. My question is, it already has electronic ignition but looks very old. I am going to buy a new electronic distributor and coil. To buy the right one l need to know if l have a ballast resistor. I can’t see one but apparently there could be one in the loom. Any ideas how l can find out. Also do electronic ignitions require a constant 12v feed compared to the old points system which has 12v on start up then drops to 9v. Thanks

**Graham** · 25-10-2020, 08:49

some will some wont, its easy to tell if the car has a ballast fitted, take the live wire off the coil and check the voltage with ignition on, if its ballast you will have around 7-9volt, if its non ballast you will have full battery voltage

**Miniliteman** · 25-10-2020, 10:00

Originally Posted by Graham

some will some wont, its easy to tell if the car has a ballast fitted, take the live wire off the coil and check the voltage with ignition on, if its ballast you will have around 7-9volt, if its non ballast you will have full battery voltage

You will only measure the 7-9 Volts quoted by Graham when the points are closed or the electronic ignition is "on".
To be sure there is current flowing through the coil (no current = no voltage drop) connect a wire from - side of coil to earth and measure the voltage then.

**Juddies** · 27-10-2020, 19:48

Originally Posted by Miniliteman

You will only measure the 7-9 Volts quoted by Graham when the points are closed or the electronic ignition is "on".
To be sure there is current flowing through the coil (no current = no voltage drop) connect a wire from - side of coil to earth and measure the voltage then.

I’ve done a few tests and it seems l may have a ballast resistor, with the car possibly having a fault can l just get a coil that doesn’t require a ballast resistor and supply a direct power to it from the ignition. Thanks

**Zakspak** · 27-10-2020, 20:48

Do you suspect the coil is at fault?
I can’t think of a reason why you couldn’t drop in a new temporary coil.
Just for testing you could pick up a temporary feed directly from the battery. You will as I’m sure you know need to use the current negative, as this is working through your distributor.
What electronic ignition do you have fitted ?

**Miniliteman** · 27-10-2020, 22:11

Originally Posted by Juddies

I’ve done a few tests and it seems l may have a ballast resistor, with the car possibly having a fault can l just get a coil that doesn’t require a ballast resistor and supply a direct power to it from the ignition. Thanks

Yes, use for example a Bosch blue coil or a Lucas DLB105. Both are approx. 3 Ohms in primary resistance.