Mystery Bit

P

PNW Yank

New Member

Posts

8

Location

Marysville, Washington State, USA

• Oct 16, 2009

• #1

I know I could probably look in several wiring diagrams and manuals, but I'd much rather ask you folks. Does anybody know what the piece identified was originally supposed to do? There is nothing attached to it atm.

 

series2nrd

Member

Posts

28

Location

bedford,bedfordshire

• Oct 16, 2009

• #2

Guessing it has a diesel engine fitted?
Looks like where the ignition coils is mounted on my series 2 2.25 petrol - will look under the bonnet later and check.

 

P

PNW Yank

New Member

Posts

8

Location

Marysville, Washington State, USA

• Oct 16, 2009

• #3

Yes, its a diesel S3.

 

Griffdowg

New Member

Posts

7,194

Location

Somewhere in Bristol

• Oct 16, 2009

• #4

closer photo may help. Is the diesel original or a retrofit?

G

 

dr pepper

New Member

Posts

1,438

Location

lancashire

• Oct 16, 2009

• #5

That kinda looks like an ignition coil ballast resistor, if its ceramic with a couple of terminals then it is.
Looks like it was a petrol at some time, engines with a ballast used 6v coils, when the engine's running the resistor drops the cars 12v down to 6v, and when cranking the resistor is bypassed giving the coil an extra kick whilst the starter pulls the battery volts down.
Popular in colder climates.

 

P

PNW Yank

New Member

Posts

8

Location

Marysville, Washington State, USA

• Oct 16, 2009

• #6

It is ceramic with a couple of terminals. So it's probably safe to assume that the diesel is a retrofit, then.

 

sypher

Well-Known Member

Posts

1,997

Location

Forest of dean

• Oct 16, 2009

• #7

Its defo a ballast resistor , and yes Id say its a diesel retro fit .

.