Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Mechanical Problem Solving => Topic started by: punkydog on January 22, 2006, 07:00:51 PM

Title: Resistor? on front panel
Post by: punkydog on January 22, 2006, 07:00:51 PM

Just out of interet, what does the resistor on the inside of the front panel control?

Title: Resistor? on front panel
Post by: paul harbinson. on January 23, 2006, 07:54:58 AM

I might be wrong but is the unit not for controling the dim dip headlight,s(when sidelights were on the headlight's came on slightly as well.Bit of crap legislation from the late eighties). :D

Title: Resistor? on front panel
Post by: fiatfsm on January 23, 2006, 03:38:49 PM

yes, thats the one!

Title: Resistor? on front panel
Post by: PaulB on January 24, 2006, 04:32:07 PM

If its a large open coiled resistor above the spare wheel its the ballast resistor for the twin coil - it allows full voltage at start-up and then drops the voltage down after a few minutes to protect the coil from overheating.

I think the unit you are talking about are the relays which is tucked up with the wiper motors on later 126s. these avoid the full voltage from the lighting circuit having to travel through the ignition switch and light switches - it means you get brighter lights and longer lasting switches. Also means you can bob in halogens with little risk of burning out the wiring.

Title: Resistor
Post by: punkydog on January 24, 2006, 05:13:29 PM

Yes, that is the one, looks similiar to the resistor in the fan housing, above the spare wheel right on the front panel, odd place for a ballast resistor, odd looking ballast resistor too. I suppose it saves running two wires down to the engine compartment.

Title: Resistor? on front panel
Post by: paul harbinson. on January 25, 2006, 07:39:20 AM

There you are now you learn somthing new every day :D