Mark--924

My ornery '77 924 NA wouldn't start today. Yesterday it died 3 or 4 times on the road but now it will crank and ignite when you turn the key but it dies immediately. The driver's side ballast resistor (next to the ignition coil) is literally smoking and hot to the touch. I assume this means it has blown, but I'm not sure if it is the cause or effect. I installed a new, slightly more powerful starter very recently and replaced the alternator cable, could that have caused the problem if I messed something up? I can't find a replacement part anywhere; someone told me they don't make them anymore, even in Germany. (Of course that would be the case!) Does anyone have any ideas 1. Where to find a suitable replacement 1.4 and 1.6 ohm resistor that will fit, and 2. if there is an underlying problem that's causing the resistor to blow?

any help is greatly appreciated.

Mark--924

Addendum: I think the resistors are .6 and .4 ohms, not 1.4 and 1.6.

Is anyone parting out a pre-78 924 that still has the resistors?

rberry951

Finding a resistor the right resistance value won't be a problem, finding one the right power (wattage) value may take some looking. Check out digikey.com for starters. But if that resistor has gone it stands to reason that something else took it out. In fact, if it were blown it would most likely open, not short, and would not be hot or smoking. It may still be good and failing because of a short elsewhere, check all your wires around what you worked on and check that nothing got pinched or otherwise compromised.

Regards,
Russell