C2 Ballast resistor

[Ed D.]

My 1965 327/300 turned off suddenly after running for a short while. The car restarted for a while and then stopped again. I looked at the electrical system and noticed one side of the ballast resister was smoking at the one terminal. The resistor itself was very hot to the touch. The wires in proximity to the resistor were not scorced, hot or burned. I assume its time for a new resistor. My question is what would cause this to happen? Should I be looking for a cause .... or does this just happen with age? (65000 original miles)
... Thanks, Ed.

[mike mccagh]

Re: C2 Ballast resistor

ballast resistors i've had fail do just that, they die completely once the resistor coil wrapping breaks. if its running intermittantly, doubt the ballast resistor has taken a crap. turn your multimeter on the risistance mode and if the ballast reisitor is ok, there will be continuity when you test it. good luck, mike

[William V.]

Re: C2 Ballast resistor

Ed

I suspect something is shorting out after the resistor. The resistor will not get hot and smoke when going bad it will simply go open. Be advised that a short could burn out the Ballastresistor.