Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:38:08 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Ignition Problem
Comments: To: Steven Shelton <shelton4@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CACK29ckGCsE+7CpVLpjX5PJcpZAbT2cy8rME8U6NJr4iG4h5cg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

The last Bosch coil I put on my son's '87 lasted one year, about 2000 miles. It was still working but the tar the coil core is packed in was dripping out the top cover seal.  These coils get hot, and I don't think the QC is as good as it should be--coils should last 100,000 miles or more.  Poor windings or poor insulation . . .

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Steven Shelton
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 8:44 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Ignition Problem

We try to go to the Blue Ridge Parkway around October 15th each year to see the leaf change. We left last Monday. I noticed right away that when I pushed or let up on the accelerator, the engine would stumble. Then the engine cut off momentarily while driving. I pulled into the Waffle House and the van was bucking. I guessed that it might be electrical, so I checked all the wiring to see if anything was loose, but everything was tight. I remembered that I had the original coil in the cabinet. Problem Electrical, Coil = Electrical Component, why not? There are only two screws, so it's worth a try. I put on the old coil and no more stumbling, no missing, no bucking.

I bought and installed the new green label Bosch coil a little over 2 1/2 years ago. The part number on the box is 00061, part made in Brazil. When I got it, the double tab connector was too narrow for the plug, so I took the connector off the old coil and put it on the new coil. Why would it last only 2 1/2 years while the original coil still works fine? Is that the life expectancy of new coils?