# 1984 Diplomat will not start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869 "2013-08-12T19:36:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carguy7766](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@carguy7766](https://community.cartalk.com/u/carguy7766)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/1 "2013-08-12T19:36:39Z")
Working on a 1984 Diplomat, 318 ci, 5.2. Changed the distributor, coil, and rotor, and still no spark. Got a new ballast resistor and can’t find the old one to replace it. Got full voltage at the + side of the coil. Negative side has two wires going to it. I would imagine one would go to the distributor, and the other seems to go through a device and to ground. Have no idea what that is. I am trying to get a wire diagram. Any thoughts? Any help woudl be great. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/2 "2013-08-12T20:40:03Z")
The ballast resistor is mounted on the firewall. Tester ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/3 "2013-08-12T20:48:29Z")
Here is what they look like at Autozone. ---
**Author:** ![carguy7766](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@carguy7766](https://community.cartalk.com/u/carguy7766)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/4 "2013-08-12T21:21:20Z")
I’ll look again, but as of now I can’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/5 "2013-08-13T04:03:21Z")
@carguy7766 I suspect you have an ignition module somewhere, perhaps on the firewall This is what it might look like. Make sure it’s functioning [http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3469860&cc=1430085](http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3469860&cc=1430085) I recommend you get your hands on a multimeter and some sort of a repair manual for that car ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/6 "2013-08-13T05:01:05Z")
Correction. The ballast resistor is located under the air cleaner, behind the carburator near the distributor. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Howie32703](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@Howie32703](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Howie32703)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/7 "2013-08-13T05:43:10Z")
Even if the ballast resistor was bad you should have spark in the start / crank position, the ballast resistor only comes into play when in the run mode, reducing voltage to the coil. Also agree with db4690 Used to have a 72 Polara many years ago with the 360…Maybe this year of your car did not have a ballast resistor…just cannot remember and has to do what db4690 suggested with the transisorized ignition on the firewall. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1984-diplomat-will-not-start/80869/8 "2013-08-13T05:43:14Z")
This is the engine control module [http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Cardone-Reman-Engine-Control-Computer/1984-Dodge-Diplomat/\_/N-ik5s7Z9gsp8?itemIdentifier=29102\_40327\_0\_3896](http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Cardone-Reman-Engine-Control-Computer/1984-Dodge-Diplomat/_/N-ik5s7Z9gsp8?itemIdentifier=29102_40327_0_3896) It is on the driver’s side fender well and as best I recall it controls the lean burn carburetor and spark timing. Diagnosing it was a pain. I have looked through my old shop manuals and found nothing so far. Maybe someone here has kept an old Mitchell or Motors manual on that year model.