Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2015, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 2015 20:37:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coil-itis
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY405-EAS211426D0A992EE16C7036C8A0660@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Primarily Bosch coil part # 00061 - silver with green label., Not sure about the Beck Arnsley.

BT

On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 3:43 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> The Bosch aftermarket wires tend to have bad ends. They also do not have > the resistor ends at the distributor cap. You should test them and actually > measure the resistance of the connector. If also using any type of resistor > spark plug the lack of the distributor end resistor won't matter. While you > mentioned coil brands, what part number? The coil for this application is > specific. The wrong coil will fail. The wrong coil can also ruin the ECU. > > Dennis > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of Bruce Todd > Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 9:37 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Coil-itis > > Thanks Larry for your input and diagnosis - the plugs have always looked > normal to me when observed - no deposits or defects and fairly recently > replaced approx 8.5 K km ago ...I will recheck them however and see what > they look like for clues. > > Plug wires are Bosch and were replaced 20 K km ago (3 years ago) - I can > check those as well however they appear to be in good shape and not overly > old. > > Bruce > > On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 6:08 AM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Bruce, > > Since your resistance measurements show a fault on the secondary > > (high > > voltage) side of the coil, this would indicate a problem in the high > > voltage wires. A few posts back Dennis suggested that bad plug wires > > could harm a coil. Have these been tested and/or replaced? How do > > the plugs look? > > > > Larry A. > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 7:56 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> To be honest - I disagree with the moving and jostling of parts > >> having the effect of repairing the coil - as opposed to installing a > >> new coil which in the short term and temporarily (?) has solved the > >> problem. The resistance readings yesterday confirm the coil does not > >> work. How it got to that state is the question. Wiring, grounds, > >> current, hall senders, etc could all be part of the equation as well > >> as crappy workmanship...and certainly the current remedy (a new coil) > >> may not be the long term answer as there quite possibly is a wiring > >> conspiracy going on somewhere in my van - which I need to sort out > >> and as well as thankful for the responses I have received so far! > >> > >> By reinstalling the old coil and finding that the engine would not > >> start tells me that the wiring either had to be jostled back into a > >> state of ill repair and then be re-jostled back into a state of > >> repair when the new coil was again hooked up - basically 5 minutes > >> later. > >> > >> Coil readings between terminal 1 & 15 = 0.6 ohms which is normal. > >> Readings > >> between terminal 4 and 15 read infinity (should be 2.4 to 3.5 k-ohm). > >> > >> Having a 29 year old van and a 104 year old house - I'm planning to > >> run knob and tube to my coil :-) > >> > >> BT > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 5:30 AM, James <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > *Yesterday after installing the new coil the van> fired up right > >> away...a > >> > bad ground or a wiring issue would not permit that> to > >> > happen.*That's a dangerous assumption on an old vehicle - if the > >> > problem is a break or weakness inside a connector, crimp, or the > >> > wiring itself (often caused > >> by > >> > heat, and all possible in old vehicles), then the mere act of > >> uninstalling > >> > and re-installing the coil could well jostle the parts back into > >> alignment > >> > so the engine will start and run until the heat or vibration causes > >> > the ground or wiring problem to re-occur. > >> > > >> > Sometimes, new wiring and connections are the only answer. I have > >> > a 50 year old house and a 24 year old Westfalia; in both cases, > >> > the > >> replacement > >> > of failing wiring and connectors has begun. > >> > > >> > James > >> > Ottawa, ON > >> > > >> > > Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 17:50:54 -0700 > >> > > From: beeceetee@GMAIL.COM > >> > > Subject: Re: Coil-itis > >> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >> > > >> > > > >> > > Yeah Jack that is what makes me wonder - (old coil - no > >> > > problems)...or whether the new coils are not up to par. Good > >> > > advice on the ground > >> wires > >> > > which I have done some work with over the years...but i don't > >> > > think > >> bad > >> > > grounds would kill a coil. > >> > > >> > *Yesterday after installing the new coil the van> fired up right > >> away...a > >> > bad ground or a wiring issue would not permit that> to happen.* > >> > >> > > > >> > > I need to have an autopsy completed on the coil - not sure > >> > > whether I > >> > could > >> > > trust Bosch to do that and provide honest feedback. > >> > > > >> > > BT > >> > > > >> > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2015 at 5:29 PM, Jack Reynaert > >> > > <jack007@comcast.net> > >> > wrote: > >> > > > >> > > > Bruce, > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > One final thing… make sure you have a real solid ground too. > >> (engine to > >> > > > chasse, battery to box/chasse, starter etc.) We grinded all the > >> contact > >> > > > points (used Dielectric Grease), and replaced ground straps, > >> > > > with > >> top > >> > > > quality everywhere. (can’t be too careful). > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > I just helped change out the motor on our friends 90 Westy, > >> > > > with a > >> Go > >> > > > Westy 2.2. When we went to fire it the first time last week, no > >> spark! > >> > > > One of the coil wires connecting to the spade was bad. > >> > > > > >> > > > That’s what made me think of this possibility too. > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > My 84 Westy has a 2.1l from a 91 Syncro in it, and the original > >> > > > coil > >> > from > >> > > > that motor as well. The motor only has 50K original miles on > >> > > > it, so > >> I > >> > > > think I’ll try to make sure I avoid the Brazilian factory > >> > > > workers if > >> > at all > >> > > > possible J. > >> > > > > >> > > > I was thinking of doing some PM and replacing my coil, simply > >> > > > due to > >> > age… > >> > > > but now I’m not going to mess with a good thing. > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > Jack > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > *From:* Bruce Todd [mailto:beeceetee@gmail.com] > >> > > > *Sent:* Sunday, August 16, 2015 8:22 PM > >> > > > *To:* Jack Reynaert > >> > > > *Subject:* Re: Coil-itis > >> > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > Hi Jack, > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > Plug wires are tight and quite new. Spade connectors are > >> > > > connected properly and are tight / clean surfaces on spades and > >> > > > wire > >> > connections. I > >> > > > am not sure on the condition of the wires though and whether > >> > > > they > >> are > >> > > > shorting - I can check those. My thoughts are this is unlikely > >> given I > >> > > > had my mechanic inspect the electrical system and coil > >> > > > specifically > >> > before > >> > > > the trip - but I won't rule out the possibility. > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > Yes - what ever is happening is pooching the coil. Or the > >> > > > Brazilian factory workers are working to rule. > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > BT > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2015 at 4:06 PM, Jack Reynaert > >> > > > <jack007@comcast.net > >> > > >> > > > wrote: > >> > > > > >> > > > Bruce, > >> > > > > >> > > > Have you checked your wires connecting to the coil, to make > >> > > > sure > >> that > >> > > > there are no nicks, or shorts or corrosion internally in the > wires? > >> > > > There are two spade connectors on the coil, both need to be > >> connected > >> > for > >> > > > it to start, then of course your plug wires. > >> > > > Sounds like more like another issue causing your "Coil-it is", > >> > > > than defective coils. > >> > > > > >> > > > If all else fails, try a high fiber diet... and try to reduce > >> > > > your > >> > stress > >> > > > :) > >> > > > > >> > > > Good luck! > >> > > > > >> > > > Jack > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > -----Original Message----- > >> > > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] > >> > > > On > >> > Behalf > >> > > > Of Bruce Todd > >> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 6:47 PM > >> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >> > > > Subject: Coil-itis > >> > > > > >> > > > You may or may not read my travel post from yesterday - great > >> > > > trip > >> down > >> > > > the Olympic Peninsula and halfway down Oregon coast. At the > >> > > > heart of > >> > the > >> > > > matter was that my coil packed it in about 3 km from home. A > >> > > > mixed blessing of sorts given the rush hour driving we > >> > > > completed in > >> Portland > >> > on > >> > > > the I-5, the number of large bridges we crossed, and some of > >> > > > the > >> remote > >> > > > highways we traversed. > >> > > > > >> > > > I have now replaced 4 coils since July 10 of 2012 = here are > >> > > > the > >> makes > >> > of > >> > > > coils, dates of purchase & install and odometer reading in (kms). > >> > > > > >> > > > July 10, 2012- Beck Arnley Coil (267,951) replaced the original > >> > > > (?) > >> > black > >> > > > Bosch coil - I bought the van in the Summer of 2006 (228,394). > >> > > > as a preventative measure. > >> > > > > >> > > > Sept 28, 2012 - New Bosch coil (270,965) replaced Beck Arnley > >> (failed) > >> > > > > >> > > > Feb 8, 2014 - Replaced new Bosch Coil with spare (original > >> > > > coil) > >> > (279,376) > >> > > > (new Bosch coil failed) > >> > > > > >> > > > October 22, 2014 - Replaced spare coil with 2nd New Bosch coil > >> > (283,980) > >> > > > (Mechanic accidentally kept spare coil which I have not yet got > >> back) > >> > > > > >> > > > August 15, 2015 - Replaced 2nd Bosch coil with 3rd Bosch coil > >> > (289,578). > >> > > > > >> > > > I just sent off an email to Bosch Canada given that this could > >> > > > be > >> some > >> > > > poor workmanship or perhaps some bad luck on my part. What > >> > mechanically or > >> > > > more specifically electronically do people think could be > >> > > > possibly contributing to this issue. > >> > > > > >> > > > One last thing - I did post last October on the heat I noticed > >> > > > from > >> the > >> > > > 2nd Bosch coil - ? Subject line: Coil Boil > >> > > > > >> > > > Thanks all. > >> > > > > >> > > > Bruce Todd > >> > > > > >> > > > 86 Westy Syncro > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > >> > > > > >


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.