W114 230.6 ignition component

[suiteR]

Can anyone tell me what's the purpose of this thing?
Tks!!

[psfred]

Ignition resistor, it's there so you don't fry the points or transistor switching unit. It limits the current through the primary winding of the coil.

If it's bad, you may have start but not run as it is usually bypassed during cranking to give a hotter spark.

Peter

Peter,
I have the same thing just prior to my coil on my 1953 220 SEB with M127 engine. I disconnected it when I installed the solid state Pertronix ignition module in my distributor because I didn't know what it was supposed to do. The car runs fine without it. Was it used just for standard point configured distributors?

[suiteR]

Thanks guys!
I tried bypass it, and compared to original setting, cannot tell the difference.
does it mean my car's system is normal or abnormal?
(sorry guys, I am an idiot in electricals)

[psfred]

I repeat, it's there to limit the current going through the coil and switching equipment. Bypassing it will burn out the switchbox, eventually. Leave it there, all systems have it, its there for a reason.

Unless it's bad, you won't notice a difference with it bypassed.

Peter

[Aaron]

When the ceramic body of those resistors begins to crack, that's when you replace them. Cracking usually indicates one that's about to fall apart which will cause a no-start condition.

[gmask]

Wow.. a red ballast resistor.. mine are blue and white.. not that I need one but I noticed that you can't get the white 6 ohm resistor from the world pac suppliers.. is that goignt o be a dealer only purchase these days??

[suiteR]

I wire it to its original setting.
I agree, it's there for a reason.