Rotor button- a weak link in the VW ignition

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Feb 2004, 9:56 am

#140819

I'll bet most VW owners or Mechanics don't know that the VW Rotor Button has a resistor in the top of it. If the resistor burns out, no spark... The VW rotor button is the only one I know that has this.. All other rotor buttons I have seen have a copper strip from the centre to the edge... On a VW rotor button You will see some epoxy cement between the centre & edge, this is where the resistor is..
So it pays to carry a Spare rotor button...
Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

blutopless2 DAMSLO

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 17 Feb 2004, 10:37 am

#140833

i gather this acts as a current limiter for the rotor??

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro

mnsKmobi Wolfsburg Wizard

589 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Feb 2004, 2:28 pm

#140936

My understanding is that the resistor is to suppress electrical noise. Apparently it can burn out if you put too much current through it. The alternatives are to:

- dig out the resistor and replace it with a wire
- buy aircooled.net's replacement rotor that has had the resistor removed
- work out the drop in replacement that doesn't have the resistor! (And share the info with the rest of us. )

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 17 Feb 2004, 2:43 pm

#140947

Id this for standard rotors? o don't remeber my 009 having one, or the porche one i use in the 009 (it has a rev limiter)

Rota_Motor

Former member · 17 Feb 2004, 3:15 pm

#140955

wow, are you serious, I thought they would have used a normal rotor buttion and resistor leads/plugs like everyone else 😉

well if nothing else, I know to keep an eye out for this.

Old Dubber Wolfsburg Wizard

605 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Feb 2004, 3:27 pm

#140962

I disagree about the weak link! I've seen "silicon" plug wires fail more times than a VW rotor.
It's for radio suppression and plug gap erosion.
It's also in some spark plug connectors.
Simple check- it's must be less than 10,000 ohms.

Grahame
visit my club site at www.vwdcqinc.org.au

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Feb 2004, 9:32 pm

#141133

I like the original VW wire type spark plug leads with the VW resistor spark plug caps. I don't think the silicon leads can take the heat from the VW engine too well. I have had many failures over the years in VW engines only.... I have never had a Rotor button fail on Me, but then I always replace them at regular intervals, same as the distributor cap.. It happened to a local "L" Beetle a few weeks ago...
and I have one of the US non resistor type for a spare..
Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 17 Feb 2004, 9:35 pm

#141136

yeah , my rotor button blows out all the surrounds in that area every 12 months
( 009 ray box electronic ignition, compufire omnipack and leads )

[Edited on 18-2-2004 by dumone]

mnsKmobi Wolfsburg Wizard

589 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Feb 2004, 8:07 am

#141260

dumone wrote:yeah , my rotor button blows out all the surrounds in this area every 12 months
( 009 ray box electronic ignition, compufire omnipack and leads )

I'm glad I'm in Melbourne then!😀😀😀

Peter Leonard Moderator Volatile

1,456 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 19 Feb 2004, 2:35 am

#141647

i managed to rediscover the meaning of "flummoxed" thanks to my rotor. NRMA took half an hour to discover that it was cracked (ultra fine hairline) and was conducting the current straight down to the case, killing my bug. new rotor, no wuckas. now i carry a spare. and a spare distributor cap. and three pounds of lard. 😀

let sleeping dubs lie