I was driving and all of a sudden it cut out, it statred again okay but only if I hed the key on. as soon as I let it go it turned the car off again. I brought another ignition and it didn't fix it.

Hannah, September 2011

The engine is petrol

Tumbikani, August 2012

My nissan vanette 2004 model stopped performing i. The engine runs very well while in netural gear but begins to jerk when you engage gear 1 and stopes immedieatly. i have replaced the air flow meter, air clearner oil fillter, petrol fillter and plugs. tyhe only improvement which i have seen is that it now rus in gear 1 nad 2 but stoppes pulling when you engage gear 3. In adittion it is still missfiring when you steep on the accelelation paddle. .

Tumikani, August 2012

petrol or diesel?

k, September 2011

Is this a really old vehicle? Sounds like the ballast resistor has failed. I had this with an old Vauxhall Nova and replacement of the ignition coil cured it. The ballast resistor was built into the coil on that model.

It is normally located close to the ignition coil in an exposed position, so that it can transfer its heat easily to the air.

The purpose of the ballast resistor is to drop the nominal battery voltage down to approximately half its value for ignition coil operation.

A ballast resistor primarily refers to an engine component that lowers the voltage after starting the engine, since the voltage required by the engine drops significantly after starting. It is an electrical resistor that affects the voltage supplied to the ignition coil.

The ballast resistor makes the engine much easier to start by also doubling the voltage provided to the ignition coil when the engine is being cranked. Not all automobile engines have ballast resistors.

ChicksFan, September 2011