# 1981 Dodge Mirada--smoking ballast resistor **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dodge\ **Created:** [August 24, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1981-dodge-mirada-smoking-ballast-resistor/54101 "2010-08-24T21:04:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![81dodgemama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/54ee81/32.png) [@81dodgemama](https://community.cartalk.com/u/81dodgemama)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1981-dodge-mirada-smoking-ballast-resistor/54101/1 "2010-08-24T21:04:18Z")
Hello Everyone, Super slant 6, 100,000 miles. We have a smoking ballast resistor. We have changed the ballast resistor 3 times. The coil, distributor, spark plugs, control box also have been changed. Anyone have any solutions? Thankyou in advance. ---
**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1981-dodge-mirada-smoking-ballast-resistor/54101/2 "2010-08-25T19:51:04Z")
Try unplugging the spark control box; turn ‘on’ the ignition; and see if the ballast resistor gets hot. Next disconnect the coil and see if the ballast resistor gets hot. I am thinking you have a shorted wire from the ballast resistor to the coil or the B+ of the spark control unit. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1981-dodge-mirada-smoking-ballast-resistor/54101/3 "2010-08-25T19:58:35Z")
Normally, these resistors do get quite hot…Check the voltage at the alternator output post to ground with the engine running and with the engine off…Perhaps you have an overvoltage condition…