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.
Electronic Ignition: Description
All Chrysler Corp. vehicles come equipped with electronic ignition. System is composed of a magnetic distributor, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), wiring harness, coil, and a dual ballast resistor.
The primary circuit consists of battery, ignition switch, compensating side of ballast resistor, primary winding of ignition coil, power switching transistor of control unit, and vehicle frame. The secondary circuit consists of the coil secondary winding, distributor cap and rotor, spark plugs, and vehicle frame.
The compensating resistance serves the same purpose as in the contact type ignition, that is to maintain constant primary current with various engine speeds. During starting this resistance is by-passed applying full battery voltage to ignition coil. In addition to the 2 basic circuits there have been 3 other circuits added, they are the pickup circuit, control unit feed circuit, and auxiliary ballast resistor circuit.
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
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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.
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