Going crazy with new Duster and over voltage issue.

When i check voltage at ballast resistor i get the same voltage on both ends. Also with key on and testing voltage at ignition lead to coil Im getting 12v. This means the ballast resistor is bad correct? Also, would this cause the high voltage charge issue?
No it means that you happened to measure that voltage when the breaker points are open. There is no current flowing through the ballast, so the voltage is the same. If you "bump" the engine so the points are closed, you should read "same as battery" at the "key" end and much lower at the "coil" end, say, 5-10V or so. But that is not what you need to check to test for drop. Please re-read the specific instructions in my post. What you are trying to do here, is to determine the drop from battery PLUS post to the "key" supply terminal of the ballast. The reason for that, is that nearby in the harness, that "ignition run" supply wire--coming from the ignition switch --- branches off and feeds several items, depending on the year/ model of the car............

Feeds ballast and to coil
Feeds VR IGN terminal
Feeds the blue wire going to alternator field
Feeds electric choke if used
Feeds idle solenoid if used
On some models (later) feeds a smog doo-dad or two

All these items draw power and the current loads and stresses the terminals, connectors, and switch(s) in series with the path from the battery to the VR. You are trying to determine if this is so, how bad it is, and after that, you will need to backtrack that path and find the culprit

READ this article from MAD about the cause of bulkhead connector problems. If you don't do this bypass, the article makes some good points as to the cause, etc. ALSO THIS SIMPLIFIED diagram shows you most of the path I am talking about:

What is not shown here is "the rest of the path"..... From the wire labeled "to igntion switch" that goes to the switch CONNECTOR, through the SWITCH, back out the switch connector on the IGNTION RUN wire, back out through the BULKHEAD connector, and to the ballast, and branch of to the VR, etc.

Each one of those points with a terminal/ switch/ connector is a drop "suspect."

You must measure voltage ACCURATELY. Don't just look for "some voltage" measure it to tenths or hundredths. Check both sides of the key switch connector on the power coming TO the key and to the ignition run LEAVING the key. Leave everything connected, key in "run" when doing this so that you have CURRENT flowing. CURRENT is what causes drop through "poor" connections.

If the power going TO the key switch is less than battery, you have a drop through the red/ black ammeter circuit TO the key.

IF that reading to the ignition switch infeed are OK, and the "run" line going back out are OK, then it has to be in the bulkhead connector in the "ignition run" wire. This is not difficult, it's just like a road map. Where is it muddy? What road? Where on that road? Is it "muddy" between the turn off and your mail box? Etc.

Catalog

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