continuing electrical problems

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 29 Mar 2010, 6:09 pm

#770650

Hi
Have been having lots of issues with my baja, but now I have installed a new starter motor, the motor turns over but will not fire. Could this be a regulator, alternator or coil problem and how can I test each of them?
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

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 29 Mar 2010, 7:11 pm

#770656

Do you have spark, the primary wire on the coil often comes loose and doesn't make contact.

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Mar 2010, 7:22 pm

#770661

baghall wrote:Hi
Have been having lots of issues with my baja, but now I have installed a new starter motor, the motor turns over but will not fire. Could this be a regulator, alternator or coil problem and how can I test each of them?
Thanks

sounds like its a coil or ignition problem...

check there is power to the coil..
pull the wire off the fuel cutoff solenoid which is on the carburetor... with the key turned on..
You should here it tick every time You touch the wire to the end of it.. that should mean power to the coil..

pull the large wire out of the coil and push it right back in
same with the other end in the centre of the distributor cap..

if the engine still doesn't fire..

take the clips off the top of the distributor...
lift it back.. spray inside the cap with WD40 or similar..
wipe it clean with a rag..
also wipe the rotor sitting inside the distributor..

carefully place the cap back on...
and try to start the engine..

no go?? take the distributor cap off again .. buy a points file at any auto shop about $2..
and run it back and forth thru the points.. about 10 times

put the cap back on and try it again...
if it still doesn't go.... could be the condensor sitting on the side of the distributor.. small round thing with wire coming out of it.. should be renewed anyway..
buy at any VW parts shop...

sorry I can't give You photos as I'm in Adelaide at present...
cheers

Lee Noonan

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

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 · 29 Mar 2010, 7:29 pm

#770667

Lee,

Thats an excellent reply i have learnt a lot thanks buddy.

/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Mar 2010, 7:55 pm

#770682

Paulc1964au wrote:Lee,

Thats an excellent reply i have learnt a lot thanks buddy.

thats great...

My old brain is still working OK..

LEE

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

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 29 Mar 2010, 10:08 pm

#770706

68AutoBug wrote:
baghall wrote:Hi
Have been having lots of issues with my baja, but now I have installed a new starter motor, the motor turns over but will not fire. Could this be a regulator, alternator or coil problem and how can I test each of them?
Thanks
sounds like its a coil or ignition problem...

check there is power to the coil..
pull the wire off the fuel cutoff solenoid which is on the carburetor... with the key turned on..
You should here it tick every time You touch the wire to the end of it.. that should mean power to the coil..

pull the large wire out of the coil and push it right back in
same with the other end in the centre of the distributor cap..

if the engine still doesn't fire..

take the clips off the top of the distributor...
lift it back.. spray inside the cap with WD40 or similar..
wipe it clean with a rag..
also wipe the rotor sitting inside the distributor..

carefully place the cap back on...
and try to start the engine..

no go?? take the distributor cap off again .. buy a points file at any auto shop about $2..
and run it back and forth thru the points.. about 10 times

put the cap back on and try it again...
if it still doesn't go.... could be the condensor sitting on the side of the distributor.. small round thing with wire coming out of it.. should be renewed anyway..
buy at any VW parts shop...

sorry I can't give You photos as I'm in Adelaide at present...
cheers

Lee Noonan

Thanks lee power is at coil checking distributer but had the little carbon rod fall out and into one of the holes in the plate. got the sucker out but had to stop there as the niehbours would complain at the noise at 11pm. Have been very patient with me working oon the car all the time.
Any way thanks heaps, excellent info and will put into practice tommorrow.

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

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 · 31 Mar 2010, 3:33 pm

#770963

The carbon rod shouldn't fall out, sounds like that may be your problem, new dissy cap

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 31 Mar 2010, 9:35 pm

#771025

66brm wrote:The carbon rod shouldn't fall out, sounds like that may be your problem, new dissy cap

Your right, however I just so frustrated last night that i decided I will purchase new dizzy, rotor, leads, plugs, points, condensor and possibly coil. Just to be safe!

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 · 2 Apr 2010, 1:24 pm

#771259

Started work on electrical problems again today. Decided to bite bullet and bought new coil, distrubutor (with cap, rotor and condensor), leads and plugs. Fitted all on and discovered that there is still not enough spark from coil. Any more suggestions would be very much appreciated.
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 · 3 Apr 2010, 12:41 pm

#771386

baghall wrote:Started work on electrical problems again today. Decided to bite bullet and bought new coil, distrubutor (with cap, rotor and condensor), leads and plugs. Fitted all on and discovered that there is still not enough spark from coil. Any more suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

hi
If the coil is installed with the wrong + and -- terminals attached - the coil will still work but with reduced spark..
+ ignition power -- to condensor

make sure the points are correctly gapped..

and the rotor is sitting on the shaft correctly
[in the groove]

and the cap is also sitting in the depression/groove ..

so everything is aligned correctly..

if the ignition switch contacts are burnt , or dirty , You will get reduced power at the coil..

You can connect the coil + directly to the battery +

then try to start the engine..

if it starts OK.. then You need to use a relay...

cheers

Lee

in Adelaide..

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

----

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

baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger

1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 3 Apr 2010, 7:50 pm

#771455

68AutoBug wrote:
baghall wrote:Started work on electrical problems again today. Decided to bite bullet and bought new coil, distrubutor (with cap, rotor and condensor), leads and plugs. Fitted all on and discovered that there is still not enough spark from coil. Any more suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

hi
If the coil is installed with the wrong + and -- terminals attached - the coil will still work but with reduced spark..
+ ignition power -- to condensor

make sure the points are correctly gapped..

and the rotor is sitting on the shaft correctly
[in the groove]

and the cap is also sitting in the depression/groove ..

so everything is aligned correctly..

if the ignition switch contacts are burnt , or dirty , You will get reduced power at the coil..

You can connect the coil + directly to the battery +

then try to start the engine..

if it starts OK.. then You need to use a relay...

cheers

Lee

in Adelaide..

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

----

No still no go. When I checked for spark across points there is no spark.

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 · 3 Apr 2010, 9:38 pm

#771470

Hi
thats bad news...

If Your spark plug leads are not the wire type...
where You can see the copper wire in them...

the other silicon types can be broken quite easily when You pull the lead out of the distributor cap or coil...

this happened to Me recently when I installed NEW silicon leads.. when I pulled it out of the coil.. the centre conductor broke off... tested with an Ohm meter and there was no conductivity... luckily I had plenty of lead..

this can also happen when pulling spark plug leads off the distributor cap...

The coil lead is the Main lead which will cause the main major problem..

best of Luck

Lee in Adelaide... back to New South tomorrow...

--

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