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not so new - electrical problems II

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baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771265
Have bought and fitted new coil, dizzy (with rotor, cap, points & condensor), leads and plugs and still not able to start car. When testing spark from coil it seems very week and testing voltage across terminals I get approx 11.6volts. Should I be getting a lot more than this and if so what could be causing the problem?
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771276
why are you saying the spark is weak, how are you testing it.

when you say voltage across terminals is 11.6 is that on the battery.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771282
Thinker wrote:why are you saying the spark is weak, how are you testing it.

when you say voltage across terminals is 11.6 is that on the battery.
Spark is hardly noticable when you disconnect lead from distributor and test it upto an earthon the motor.

Voltage is across terminals of the coil
Thanks
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#771288
baghall wrote:Have bought and fitted new coil, dizzy (with rotor, cap, points & condensor), leads and plugs and still not able to start car. When testing spark from coil it seems very week and testing voltage across terminals I get approx 11.6volts. Should I be getting a lot more than this and if so what could be causing the problem?
Sounds like a battery problem..
or Your ignition switch is badly worn in the contacts

LEE



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

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771289
testing voltage across coil tells you nothing about what going on.

if you have weak spark on a lead it could be many things you will need to start with the basics.

1. check battery terminals, all connections clean and good voltage. check the earth cables for corrosion both ends.
2. check voltage of battery then check voltage at coil, from positive terminal to earth should match battery voltage if not the problem will be in that cable.


give this ago and see what results you get if this checks ok then you have to check if the new parts you are correct or not.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771295
Thanks Lee
Battery is dropping to about 11.6volts when cranking so I assume that it must be the ignition switch. How do I connect a relay in as you suggested earlier.
Thanks again
68AutoBug wrote:
baghall wrote:Have bought and fitted new coil, dizzy (with rotor, cap, points & condensor), leads and plugs and still not able to start car. When testing spark from coil it seems very week and testing voltage across terminals I get approx 11.6volts. Should I be getting a lot more than this and if so what could be causing the problem?
Sounds like a battery problem..
or Your ignition switch is badly worn in the contacts

LEE



--
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771298
Thanks Thinker,
Voltage is same from coil to earth as for across battery terminals 11.6 when cranking.
Thinker wrote:testing voltage across coil tells you nothing about what going on.

if you have weak spark on a lead it could be many things you will need to start with the basics.

1. check battery terminals, all connections clean and good voltage. check the earth cables for corrosion both ends.
2. check voltage of battery then check voltage at coil, from positive terminal to earth should match battery voltage if not the problem will be in that cable.


give this ago and see what results you get if this checks ok then you have to check if the new parts you are correct or not.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771299
what is voltage no load.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771305
Thinker wrote:what is voltage no load.
across battery 13.96
coil to earth 12.05
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#771306
11 volts is good, a car can start with 9volts and a bit less.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771309
baghall wrote:
Thinker wrote:what is voltage no load.
across battery 13.96
coil to earth 12.05
well you have got a bit of voltage drop which could be the age of the wires but enough for spark.that rules out the old stuff.

next is to check coil, it should be ok if it is new.
take the high tension lead that runs from coil to dizzy. remove it from dizzy and hold lead 1/2 inch from engine block and get someone to crank motor, spark should jump the jump the 1/2 inch gap. if not the coil is the problem.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771310
ian.mezz wrote:11 volts is good, a car can start with 9volts and a bit less.
Thats what I thought till I meet this car! HaHa aaaaaaaaaaaa
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771314
Thinker wrote:
baghall wrote:
Thinker wrote:what is voltage no load.
across battery 13.96
coil to earth 12.05
well you have got a bit of voltage drop which could be the age of the wires but enough for spark.that rules out the old stuff.

next is to check coil, it should be ok if it is new.
take the high tension lead that runs from coil to dizzy. remove it from dizzy and hold lead 1/2 inch from engine block and get someone to crank motor, spark should jump the jump the 1/2 inch gap. if not the coil is the problem.
Well going on your advice here I have to assume that I bought a dud coil. Talk about bad luck. Will be trrying some more tests tommorrow in case I have got it wrong, but if coil dead I guess I'll have to take it back.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771315
where did you get all your parts from
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771318
just a thought have got the power lead to coil on the plug marked 15 i think and the condenser lead to the plug marked 1.

if the car has been running if so try the old coil.

also i am assuming that you have set point gap correct and condenser is connect correctly
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#771319
a spark should only jump about 8ml
Do you have fuel??
with all this not starting and if you have fuel you may have to much fuel on the spark plugs???now.
whack the old coil back on.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771320
Will check suggestions tommorrow as neihbours may complain if I begin working again now.
Thanks again!
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#771323
I will post you a box of matches that will fix it .😂
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#771324
ian.mezz wrote:I will post you a box of matches that will fix it .😂
the old man told me long ago all you need in a tool box is wd40, duct tape and matches.
the wd40 for things that should move but dont.
the tape for things that shouldnt move but do.
and the matches to solve any problems that the first two dont fix.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#771328
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771350
Aw guys I still love my car. I miss drivin it.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771384
I am now out of ideas.
Tested everything still not firing. I give up. I guess it's time to get a mechanic or auto electrician to look at it.
Bloody annoying!:
mad:
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771391
what type of coil did you get.

what is your points gap set at.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771394
Thinker wrote:what type of coil did you get.

what is your points gap set at.
coil is a GT40, points gap is .016"

However I found that the negative terminal of the coil has power to it when on the postive terminal has power connected to it. Is this normal?
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771397
you will get voltage as the points open and it will go when the points close.

if you have voltage all the time you hav a short in the dizzy some where.
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771418
Thinker wrote:you will get voltage as the points open and it will go when the points close.

if you have voltage all the time you hav a short in the dizzy some where.
Ok, no short in the dizzy which is good news, bad news still no idea of whats wrong, and all is shut in Penrith till Tuesday.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#771424
next thing is to see if timing is right.

with your multi meter on the coil connect to the line that gos to dizzy as you turn the motor over by hand at top dead centre on number one cyclinder your multi should show voltage as you get to first timing make 7.5 degrees before TDC.


after that check the leads are in correct order

no 1 lead should be roughly at the 4 oclock mark when looking down on dizzy
then in a clock wise direction no 4, no 3 and no 2.


good luck
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

rose doin it for d girls

2,036 posts · joined Dec 2004 ·

#771435
Isn't there anyone down your way that can call in and see what's going on. Surely there's someone on here that lives close by that could call in and help your out. It's probably something real simple.😂😂
hope you get it sorted soon.

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#771453
rose wrote:Isn't there anyone down your way that can call in and see what's going on. Surely there's someone on here that lives close by that could call in and help your out. It's probably something real simple.😂😂
hope you get it sorted soon.
The mechanics that I know are closed and some won't talk about cars with you unless you are at their shop. It is a very different world down here compared to Newcastle. We only just got 24 hour shopping and at Kmart only.
Thbaks for the concern.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car

baja_01 Slammed & Awesome Dubber

84 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#773441
Hi
reading your posts and I had a similiar problem. Bought a complete new dizzy, the car started perfect a few times then nothing. Found the new condenser was shot. Maybe worth a try......