Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
DELCO-REMY Transistorized: Operation
With ignition switch turned on, engine not running, current from battery flows through ballast resistor to control unit. Current then flows through transistors TR-1 and TR-2, resistors R-l, R-2 and R-5, and the coil primary winding and resistor R-8 to ground.
When engine is running, vanes on rotating pole piece (iron core) in distributor line up with internal teeth on pole piece, establishing a magnetic path through center of pickup coil, and inducing a voltage in pickup coil. This voltage causes transistor TR-3 to conduct, resulting in current flow as follows: Charged condenser C-1 causes transistor TR-2 to turn off which causes transistor TR-1 to turn off, interrupting the circuit to ignition coil primary winding. The high voltage required to fire the spark plug is induced in coil secondary winding.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.