Ignition - 45DE4 Distributor (integral amplifier, 75-on)

Hover over a wire to confirm the colour

Note 1: Fitted to North American cars only, this troublesome 45DE system was often dealer-replaced with the much more reliable 45DM system. Information on the ballast resistance can be found here.

Note 2: Ignition relay fitted from 1977 only, in 1976 the white from the ignition switch went direct to the fusebox and ignition components and there was no electric cooling fan.

Note 3: 1977 models with the ignition relay can suffer from a problem whereby the engine may continue to run normally (not Dieseling) when the ignition is switched off see here. For 1978 on the problem was corrected by moving the white/brown feed for the ignition coil circuits from the fusebox to the white at the ignition relay, leaving two at the fusebox and three wires at the relay. This also shows 'A' the thermal cut-out for the cooling fans; 'B' the 'double-brown up from the alternator; 'C' the anti-runon valve in-line fuse; and 'D' the hazard flasher in-line fuse:

Note 4: The schematics show the original rectangular Lucas relays with W1, W2, C1 and C2 terminal numbering, but in practice cylindrical relays with ISO numbering were fitted. The relationship is as follows:

Wire colourOriginal numberingISO numbering
White from ignition switchW185
Black earthW286
Brown 12v supplyC230
White/brown to ignition powered circuitsC187

The 'Resistor for distributor' in the above schematic is one of two power supplies for the electronics and is a 6.6 ohm metal-cased power resistor as shown below picture: Monte Morris