Date:         Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:21:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      5 Cly. Eurovan Coil Intermittent Failure PICS
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Hi all.

I must've been super bored while cleaning the garage yesterday.....

Doubt this is of much use as the part isn't designed to be serviced
but for any fellow "propellor heads"...   lol

Some pics of coil partially disassembled:

https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/Eurovan5CylinderIgnitionCoilFailure

I'd helped some EV folks while on a trip last summer up here in BC,
just near Invermere or Windermere. Their white EVC 5 cyl. 5 spd had an
intermittent no run issue and they were stuck on side of road. Owner
suggested checking spark, we did, no spark. I just happened to have a
spare OBD1 Jetta ABA coil. (my bus has that engine) which appeared
nearly identical to their coil. Since it was Saturday or Sunday after
6 PM in a small town, we took the chance swapping that part in.
Swapped it in, it started right up! I have NO idea if that part got
them home but I suspect it did. All this was obviously incredible
"dumb luck".

I kept their old coil as a possible spare and so i could see what
failed in it. It appears to me that heat took its toll. Semiconductor
(?) had clearly separated from the PCB. Yellow arrow points to heat
mark on part above this semiconductor.

I'd read that these type of coils fail due to cracks in coil itself
but on this type of coil, maybe the semiconductor failed when hot
enough? Or heat transferred to coil itself caused it to fail when it
got up to a certain temp?

This coil is mounted behind the driver side headlight.

Neil.

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

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