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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Multimeter anybody?
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Fri, 25 June 2004 03:33
 
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Older ignition systems commonly had ballast resistors; the idea was to run the coil off ~8v most of the time, but while cranking the resistor is bypassed, thus increasing the strength of the spark as the coil is getting the full 12v (which of course is multiplied to thousands of volts). If you buy an ignition coil from Repco et al you'll notice that some are designed for use with a ballast resistor, and some without.
As for the original question, there should be two separate power feeds for the ignition coil. One circuit is live when the ignition switch is in the "on" position and this goes through the ballast resistor; the other circuit is live when the ignition switch is in the "start" position (ie when cranking) and this bypasses the ballast resistor.
If you can get your hands on a circuit diagram for your car (or pretty much any Toyota from the era) it should be pretty obvious what's going on.
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