What is wrong with my Jeep? Please help!!!

Silly question. Can you dumb that down for me? What is the ballast? Where is it? How do I find it?

Thanks!

 

Did it. If its the little block about 2-3" long a little thicker than a pencil...

With key in "on" position:

5.75V on left terminal
11.25V on right terminal

What does that mean?

 

Darn. I was hoping that would be it. It seemed easy enough to fix.

Any more guesses anyone?

 

If it helps, the voltage from the + terminal of the battery to ground is 12.4V

 

Where are you checking the ground at??

Battery post is the best voltage reading you will get------frame or block is where the ground cable is attached, and the stater and ignition are grounded at the block. These will often be a bit lower.

If your battery is frame grounded, be sure you have a strap back to the block also, and that all ends and connections are clean, and tight.

 

Just checked the spark. Here's what I did (I hope its right).

I took the #4 wire off (just because its easiest to get to), pulled the plug, put the plug back in the wire, had my neighbor crank the key while I held the end of the plug (the little "L" shaped do-dad the spark should be attacking) against a metal ground.

There wasn't any visible spark.

The end of the plug was moderately dirty... not terrible, but I wouldn't eat off it.

Should I wait until its cool (when it will start) and check for a spark again?

 

I was checking ground on the frame where other electric parts are grounded

 

Try checking it at the engine block.

 

Wonder if his dwell is off or loose and drifting around?

 

I checked it against the block and against the (-) battery terminal. It's about the same readings on the ballast.

 

What kind of test light? I have a timing light, but I'm thinking you mean a current-testing light of some sort. I'll get one tomorrow and try again...

 

Isn't it too low of a voltage going to the coil?
If Mine read like that , I would throw a new on on there just because.

 

Not on a points system. The point of the ballast resistor is to reduce the voltage to allow the points to live. If you put full 12 volts to points they burn up in short order.