65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

[Mark H.]

I'm trying to figure a wiring issue for my '65 SB. Car has been running fine but the other day I found an unconnected wire (with a "U-clip", or whatever it's called, that allows it to be put under a screw head, like those on the coil or ballast resistor) hanging off of the wiring harness just above the ballast resistor (BR). It's pink/black and so short and near to the BR that it looks like it should go on the BR. Don't recall it being there.
Other wires : (1) one pink/black wire comes out of the wiring harness from behind the wiper motor and goes to the top of the BR (good) , (2) another one goes from the top of the BR over to the + side of coil (good), (3) a pink/black line comes off of the bottom of the BR and goes through the fire wall (good). So I have two lines at the top of the BR, and one on the bottom of the BR (sound right ?).

So, again, the wire that is confusing me is the short one coming out of the harness just above the BR, having a U-clip. Looking at my shop manual and assembly manual has not helped me.
Any thoughts are appreciated,
Thanks, Mark

[William C.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

The one you don't have connected is the jumper from the starter solenoid that bypasses the ballast resistor when the ignition switch is in "crank" mode. It is a factory method of addressing the voltage drop in the 12V electrical when cranking system under heavy load.

[Mark H.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

Thanks Bill. Where should I hook this wire up then ? To the top of the ballast resistor ? Wire length would only allow it to hook up to the top (and maybe the bottom) of the BR.

Mark

[William C.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

Hooks up on the same post as the wire to the coil, I believe you said this is the top in your case.

[Mark H.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

Thanks again Bill. Will do tonight

[John H.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

Mark -

You should have a black/pink wire that comes through the grommet in the wiper motor recess (from the ignition switch) with a "U"-spade on it that connects to the bottom of the resistor.

There will be another black/pink wire from the engine harness (above the resistor) with a "U"-spade on it that connects to the top of the resistor; this wire goes to the coil (+) terminal.

At the coil (+) terminal, you should have two black/pink wires (one from the top of the resistor, and one from the "R" terminal on the starter solenoid); these are normally crimped together in one "U"-spade. If you have a radio, you will also have a capacitor mounted on the coil bracket, and it has a wire with a "U"-spade on it that also goes on the (+) terminal.

The ballast resistor should only have two wires connected to it - one black/pink at the bottom (from the ignition switch), and one black/pink at the top (feeding the coil).

The resistor connections should look like the photo below (the photo is a '67, which uses two pink wires instead of black/pink wires).

[Mark H.]

Re: 65 SB Ballast Resistor wiring

Thanks for the good detail John.

Mark