The Ballast Resistor normally needs no changing. They usually last decades. But certainly if your is defective, or trying to make the car look new you can replace it.

They are very easy to test, just measure the ohms with an ohmmeter. If it's in spec, there is no technical reason to change it. The ohm spec is here click it: Coil.

The condensor is not changed with the coil. It is changed with the points every 12 months or 15000 km (points & condensor are a set) -- see Schedule.

Guys i had a look for the condensor that supafatto showed me couldnt see it anywhere.Theres a little black box about inch squared next to the coil would that be it.

Every other industry calls the condenser/ suppressor a capacitor. It's there to limit the peak voltage on the points side of the coil to stop arcing across the points.

In an electronic ignition it limits the voltage across the electronic switch. If that fails you'll blow ignition fuses and it can be really hard to trace. I had an intermittent fault with on in an old holden and it melted the resistor wire that feeds the coil. I then had to rewire it. Fortunately the datsun uses a ballast resistor, much easier to change.

Condenser

Hi nick whats the surpressors

Yes and surpressors too

hi dd if im changing the coil is it worth doing the resistor too.

The Bosch black coil is SU12R $38 at Supercheap

If you prefer red, get the GT40R.

There are many other brands for OEM replacement -- see Coil for a partial list.

Datsun points distributors use a 12V coil, along with an external resistor.

Here is a stock 1200 coil, marked 12V



Nissan Part Numbers
22433-14806 COIL-ignition (Hitachi)
22433-14816 COIL-ignition (Hanshin)
22462-U3110 COIL-IGNITION Hanshin
22462-H3140 COIL-IGNITION Mitsubishi

Bosch: GT40R (can style) or GT40RT (transformer style) are direct replacements. The R means use external resistor (to correct what was said above).

So dd a 12v coil is what i need as it has points.