NOTE:
The entire contents of this page are from the 1979 Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Electrical Service Manual.  While some specs inevitably changed from then until the end of the "M" Body production, most figures would remain the same.  This page is has a very large amount of content, and may take extra time to load.

Contents of this page:

BATTERY
REDUCTION GEAR STARTING MOTOR
ALTERNATOR
ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR
SPARK PLUGS
IGNITION COIL AND BALLAST RESISTOR
6 CYLINDER DISTRIBUTOR APPLICATION
8 CYLINDER DISTRIBUTOR APPLICATION
IGNITION TIMING
DISTRIBUTOR SPECIFICATIONS
ELECTRONIC SPARK CONTROL SYSTEM
EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS
INTERIOR LIGHT BULBS
FUSE BOXES AND RELAY BANKS
BULKHEAD DISCONNECTS

Much of the content of this page is general information for Mopars, not necessarily specific to the "M" Body line.

BATTERY    (back to top)

* Maintenance Free Battery
** Long Life - Low Maintenance Battery

Cranking Rating is the current a battery can deliver for 30 secondss and maintain a terminal voltage of 7.2 volts or greater at a specified temperature.
Reserve Capacity Rating is the amount of time a battery can deliver 25 amps and maintain a minimum terminal voltage of 10.5 volts at 80º F (27º C).

REDUCTION GEAR STARTING MOTOR    (back to top)

Starting Motor Model
    1.5 HP -- 3755900
    1.8 HP -- 3755250
Make
    Chrysler Built
Voltage
    12
Number of Fields
    4 Series Parallel
Number of Poles
    4
Brushes
    4
Spring Tension
    32 to 36 Ounces (.91 to 1.02 kg)
Drive
    Solenoid Shift Overrunning Clutch
Cranking Average Draw (engine at operating temperature)
    165 to 180 Amps.  225, 318 Engines
    180 to 200 Amps.  360, 400, 440 Engines

Free-Running Test
    Voltage
        11
    Amperage Draw
        90
    Minimum Speed RPM
        1.5 HP -- 3700
        1.8 HP -- 5700

Locked Resistance Test
    Voltage
        4
    Amperage Draw
        475 to 550

Solenoid Switch
    Pull-In Coil
        13 to 15 Amps @ 6 Volts @ 77º F (25º F)
    Hold-In Coil
        8 to 9 Amps @ 6 Volts @ 77º F (25º F)

ALTERNATOR    (back to top)

Identification
    Violet Tag - 41 Amp
    Natural Tag - 50 Amp
    Yellow Tag - 60 Amp
    Brown Tag - 65 Amp
    Yellow Tag - 100 Amp

Rotation
    Clockwise at Drive End
Voltage
    12 Volt System
Current Output
    Design Controlled
Voltage Output
    Limited by Voltage Regulator
Brushes (Field)
    2
Condenser Capacity
    0.5 Microfarad plus or minus 20%
Field Current By Draw (Rotating by Hand)
    4.5 to 6.5 Amps @ 12V All except 100 Amp 4.75 to 6.0 @ 12V

Current output is measured at 1250 engine RPM and 15 volts at the alternator.  900 RPM and 13 volts for 100 Amp alternator.
Volatge is controlled by variable load (carbon pile) across the battery.

ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR    (back to top)

The battery specific gravity should be above 1.200 when checking the regulated voltage.
The voltage regulator is working properly if the voltage is in accordance with the following chart:

SPARK PLUGS    (back to top)

* Champion or Equivalent

IGNITION COIL AND BALLAST RESISTOR    (back to top)

Ballast Resistor  (Resistance @ 70-80º F (21-27º C))
    Compensating (Coil Side)
        .50 - .60 ohms
    Auxiliary (Control Unit Side)
        4.75 - 5.75 ohms

6 CYLINDER DISTRIBUTOR APPLICATION    (back to top)

Listed by part number as stamped on distributor identification tag.

A=Automatic    M=Manual
* Wet curb weight plus 300 lb (136 kg) rounded off to the nearest 500 lb (227 kg).

8 CYLINDER DISTRIBUTOR APPLICATION    (back to top)

Listed by part number as stamped on distributor identification tag.

A=Automatic    M=Manual
* Wet curb weight plus 300 lb (136 kg) rounded off to the nearest 500 lb (227 kg).

IGNITION TIMING    (back to top)

A=Automatic    M=Manual
1 Wet curb weight plus 300 lb (136 kg) rounded off to the nearest 500 lb (227 kg)
2 Basic ignition timing + or - 2º
3 Curb idle speed + or - 100 RPM
4 Use a jumper to ground carburetor idle switch contact button
5 16º BTDC Canada
BTDC=Before Top Dead Center

DISTRIBUTOR SPECIFICATIONS    (back to top)

Listed by Part Number in Numerical Order

Electronic Ignition

Electronic Spark Control System

* Refer to Shaft and Bushing Wear Test

ELECTRONIC SPARK CONTROL SYSTEM    (back to top)

There are four tables below, with four Part Numbers in each table.

TABLE 1

TABLE 2

TABLE 3

TABLE 4

EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS    (back to top)

1 Two headlight system, no seperate high beam lamp
2 Parking lamp serves as front side marker
3 1157 bulbs used as tail and stop only

INTERIOR LIGHT BULBS    (back to top)

1 Fluorescent Readout, serviced by authorized dealers only
2 Light Emitting Diode
3 Included in instrument cluster lighting

1 Fluorescent Readout, serviced by authorized dealers only
2 Included in instrument cluster lighting

1 Included in instrument cluster lighting
2 Fluorescent Readout, serviced by authorized dealers only

1 Flourescent Readout, serviced by authorized dealers only
2 Included in instrument cluster lighting
3 Light Emitting Diode

FUSE BOXES AND RELAY BANKS    (back to top)

Check the bottom of this section for Fuse Color Codes.

Diplomat, LeBaron (before 1983), New Yorker/Fifth Avenue (after 1982), Caravelle (before 1983), Gran Fury, Volare, Aspen

1 Circuit Breaker
2 30 Amp fuse if equipped with A/C
3 on Volare/Aspen: Park, tail, license, side marker & instrument panel lamps, dome & trunk lamps
4 on Volare/Aspen: Key-in buzzer & ignition lamp time delay relay, map, glove box & open door lamps, clock, cigar lighter, auto-power antenna
5 on Volare/Aspen: Horn, stop lamp, power door lock relay
6 on Volare/Aspen only

1979-Era Cordoba and Magnum

1 Circuit Breaker

1979-Era St. Regis and Newport/New Yorker

1 Circuit Breaker

Fuse Color Codes

BK   Black
BR   Brown
DBL   Dark Blue
DGN   Dark Green
GY   Gray
LBL   Light Blue
LGN   Light Green
O   Orange
P   Pink
R   Red
T   Tan
V   Violet
W   White
Y   Yellow

BULKHEAD DISCONNECTS    (back to top)

Check the bottom of this section for Wire Color Codes.  Color codes with slash denote a tracer:  DGN/Y = Dark Green with Yellow Tracer.

The illustration below applies to all models.

Diplomat, LeBaron (before 1983), New Yorker/Fifth Avenue (after 1982), Caravelle (before 1983), Gran Fury, Volare, Aspen

1 GY Exhaust sensor (HN carline only)
2 DBL Ignition run
4 R Ignition switch feed
6 BK/R Heated rear window
7 BK/R Windshield washer
8 BK/T Low washer fluid level (FG carline only)
9 LBL/BK Intermittent windshield wiper
10 P Hazard flasher
12 GY/BK Brake warning lamp
13 DBL Windshield wiper
14 DGN/Y Windshield wiper
17 BR Windshield wiper
18 R Windshield wiper
21 V Temperature
22 GY Low oil pressure
24 LGN Left turn signal
25 W/LGN Back-up lamp
26 V/BK Back-up lamp
28 DGN/R Horn
29 BK/Y Parking lamps
30 T Right turn signal
31 DBL A/C clutch
32 BK Ammeter (alternator)
33 Y Ignition start
34 R Ammeter (battery)
35 R High beam lamp
36 V Low beam lamp
38 P Ignition switch
39 R Stop and tail lamps
40 BK Headlamps

1979-Era Cordoba and Magnum

1 BK/R Heated rear window
2 DBL Ignition run
3 R/LGN Battery
4 BK/P Concealed headlamp (open)
5 DBL/W Concealed headlamp (close)
7 BR Windshield washer
9 P Hazard flasher
10 DBL/Y A/C clutch
11 Y Starter
12 BK Brake warning lamp
13 DBL Windshield wiper
14 DGN/Y Windshield wiper
15 GY Oil lamp
17 BR Windshield wiper
18 R/BK Windshield wiper
19 V Temperature
21 DGN/R Horn
22 LBL/BK Windshield wiper delay switch
23 W Back-up lamp
24 V/BK Back-up lamp
25 W/R Speed control
27 T Right turn signal lamp
28 LGN Left turn signal lamp
29 DBL/R Speed control
30 BR/R Speed control
31 R Ammeter (battery)
32 BK Ammeter (alternator)
34 BK/Y Parking lamps
35 GY Tachometer
36 R Ignition switch
37 P Ignition switch
38 BK Headlamp switch
39 R High beam
40 BK Low beam

1979-Era St. Regis and Newport/New Yorker

1 BK/R Heated rear window
2 DBL Ignition run
3 R Battery
4 BK/R Concealed headlamp (open)
5 DBL/Y Concealed headlamp (close)
6 DGN In-tank fuel pump
7 BR Windshield washer
8 BK/T Low washer fluid level
9 P Hazard flasher
10 DBL A/C clutch
11 Y Starter
12 BK Brake warning lamp
13 DBL Windshield wiper
14 DGN Windshield wiper
15 GY Oil guage
16 GY Oil lamp
17 BR Windshield wiper
18 R Windshield wiper
19 V Temperature
21 DGN/R Horn
22 LBL Windshield wiper delay switch
23 W Back-up lamp
24 V/BK Back-up lamp
25 W/R Speed control
27 T Right turn signal lamp
28 LGN Left turn signal lamp
29 DBL/R Speed control
30 BR/R Speed control
31 R Ammeter (battery)
32 BK Ammeter (alternator)
34 BK/Y Parking lamps
36 R Ignition switch
37 P Ignition switch
38 BK Headlamp switch
39 R High beam
40 V Low beam

Wire Color Codes

BK   Black
BR   Brown
DBL   Dark Blue
DGN   Dark Green
GY   Gray
LBL   Light Blue
LGN   Light Green
O   Orange
P   Pink
R   Red
T   Tan
V   Violet
W   White
Y   Yellow

Wire Color Substitutions

Occasionally a different color wire is substituted.  When this is done in the factory, an identification label should be affixed to the wire affected.