I bought Blanche (Renault 4 savane) from a classic Citroen dealer north of London. She now lives with me in the South of France. I am just putting her onto french plates. A control technique was done by a quattrele experienced mechanic. I am no mechanic. He has attached a little electric box to the coil? What is this please.He did some other bits and pieces but nothing major. Just thought I’d let whoever owned this vehicle last that it’s still alive and kicking!
- Thread starter Charlton1
- Start date
André4Renaults
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 768
- Location
- Barnet, Hertfordshire.
Some coils are ballasted, meaning that they are 6 volt ones, but operating on 12volt electrical system. They therefore have to be ballasted to half the voltage going through them. The car's wiring is usually set to pass 12 volts through the coil when the starter is operated, so that the plugs get a bigger spark, to assist starting. Once the starter is turned off the voltage across the coil is reduced, the ballasting reducing the 12 volts to 6.
Thanks, I thought all cars made in 1990 were 12 volts?
André4Renaults
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 768
- Location
- Barnet, Hertfordshire.
Yes, they are, but by using a 6 volt ballasted coil the plugs are given a "double blast" by having 12 volts put directly through the coil only when the starter is operated. This helps starting and doesn't do the coil any harm for a short burst. When the car's running normally the ballast reduces the voltage in the coil to 6 volts, so it functions at its designed voltage. Many vehicles in the late 1980s & early 1990s used this technique to assist starting and it may have a positive effect regarding emissions on start-up.
When a 12 volt car is started the voltage drops to about 9.6 volts, so a 6 volt coil would be operating at about 50% above its nominal working voltage. Once the starter disengages & the engine is running normally the car's voltage returns to 12 volts and the ballast reduces this to 6 volts, its normal operating voltage. I hope this helps & sorry if I've gone on a bit!
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
- Messages
- 4,608
- Location
- Bedford UK
Good to hear news about Blanche. Do post some photos in her new home. Bluebell bought her from Glasgow in maybe 2005 and took her to France (dept 71). She came back here after the liner seals failed and I rebuilt the engine then passed her on to Richard who fitted some other shiny bits. She was passed on and last I saw was at Paul Cunningham's workshop.
laxeian
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 567
- Location
- Earth
Could the small box that has been wired to the coil be a control module for an electronic ignition kit ( gammatronix or similar).
I have fitted one myself, a quick visual confirmation underbonnet would be to look at the distributor itself, once fitted the capacitor on distributor is redundant, so will be disconected or removed.
I have fitted one myself, a quick visual confirmation underbonnet would be to look at the distributor itself, once fitted the capacitor on distributor is redundant, so will be disconected or removed.