Could someone give me some advice about sticking with the standard points over the new electronic system? I have a 68 beetle 1500 that has a good strong engine that I use as a daily work car. I had someone say too me that for reliability the new system is the way to go, and others say that the points are fine, just keep having them re set every 3 months or when the its getting hard to start? Will i burn my points out sooner because of driving everyday?
Craig Torrens ·
go the pointless setup (about $150).........set the timing and then forget !
Joel ·
stay away from the cheap ones and u'll be glad u made the swap
ive had a pertronix ignitor II for over a year now been great
got so sick of car that wouldnt start after heavy rain and gapping points all the time
just keep a set of points and condensor in the glove box
ive had cheap kit die and so have 100s of other ppl too
matberry ·
Joel wrote:stay away from the cheap ones
Which ones are cheap?
68AutoBug ·
bbgo wrote:Could someone give me some advice about sticking with the standard points over the new electronic system? I have a 68 beetle 1500 that has a good strong engine that I use as a daily work car. I had someone say too me that for reliability the new system is the way to go, and others say that the points are fine, just keep having them re set every 3 months or when the its getting hard to start? Will i burn my points out sooner because of driving everyday?
Your points rubbing block will wear down the more the engine is used,...
best to learn how to time the engine and adjust the points... Points also can burn.. as there is current flowing thru them... remembering how fast they open and shut...
I replaced My condensor with an electronic ignition kit I built... it puts a lot more Voltage into the coil but only a very small amount thru the points... so they don't burn...
the rubbing block still wears down and the points need adjusting every now & then... but I found the distributor hasn't needed moving, just the points adjusted...
So, this kit is a compromise... I still have points...
which get adjusted every 6 months as i don't drive it every day...
but I noticed MORE power from the engine...
something I didn't expect....
and the engine starts first turn every time...
The electronic ignition without points means you don't ever touch the points as You don't have any....
I have the Scorcher dizzy
Great set up
No problems at all - uses all standard Bosch caps, rotors and modules
Only thing against it is it still uses a rotor and cap
reckon if i went again i would use one of the 4 coil pack ones i have seen and get rid of the rotor and cap
DirkHedde ·
how does your home made system work lee? i like your velocity stack.
bbgo ·
thanks everybody for all your info, where is the place to get a good set up? I like the sound of the no points set up like the petronix II, but in the mean time i am getting a tune up on saturday where i can sit along side the bloke and learn how to set timing and watch the new points go in and so on, ive only had my dub about 9 months! I like the pic of the velocity stack!
68AutoBug ·
DirkHedde wrote:how does your home made system work lee? i like your velocity stack.
Hi.
it was a Dick Smith kit...
I bought it years ago but never put it in until last year...
only a very small amount of current flows thru the points but then its changed into HIGH VOltage into the coil...
You can't use a GT40 coil as they usually burn out... with the high Voltage...
so a normal standard coil works great...
so, all it does is take a small signal from the points and then sends a high voltage into the coil...
it does this electronically...
Lee
PS: the velocity stack was already written on the photo..
I'm now using a standard VW air filter... Lee
Andy ·
Good quality goes for points also. German Beru points installed on the kombi at re-build were still working fine when I replaced them at 60,000km, adjusted maybe 3 times in those klms, no reliability or starting issues. Not many (if any?) Bosch points are good quality anymore.
Still more maintenance than electronic, but I'm happy with them.
aintgotitmusthaveit ·
Hi guys I got one of those empi acufire units .
Have not installed it yet.
Do people's experience with this indicate reliable??
68AutoBug ·
Andy wrote:Good quality goes for points also. German Beru points installed on the kombi at re-build were still working fine when I replaced them at 60,000km, adjusted maybe 3 times in those klms, no reliability or starting issues. Not many (if any?) Bosch points are good quality anymore.
Still more maintenance than electronic, but I'm happy with them.
Yes,
I use Beru spark plugs too...
the good points have bakelite rubbing block..
many nowdays have a bit of plastic that wears out much sooner...
don't forget to use grease on the rubbing block
I have a set of points here that came with the small packet of grease for the rubbing block, plus it has a piece of cardboard between the points...
I don't know what that does...
Bosch part number 1 237 013 057
to fit : VW 111 998 063
Lee
PS: what the actual points are made from would be important too.. some burn easily...
General_Failure ·
There are coil pack ones now? cool.
I've been considering going the DIY route. Partially because I suspect that the stock dissy advance is completely out of whack for my setup. It's nothing fancy, but it has a nonstandard carb and I don't want to mess with porting a vacuum signal line for optimal calibration.
Bizarre ·
aintgotitmusthaveit wrote:Hi guys I got one of those empi acufire units .
Have not installed it yet.
Do people's experience with this indicate reliable??
yeah - they reliably fail 🤪
They are ok but dont expaect them to last
I saw a coil pack on a motor VVDS had at the nationals last year
Joel ·
aintgotitmusthaveit wrote:Hi guys I got one of those empi acufire units .
Have not installed it yet.
Do people's experience with this indicate reliable??
unfortunatley thats one of the ones that died on me plus a mate had one die as well, both in less than 6 months
the amount of threads on thesamba also saying this is also confirms the age old saying buy once, cry once
that said the very first cheapy one i bought (cant remember what breed but wasnt empi) is still going well in the old mans trike after 8 years...TOUCH WOOD
sinjin ·
Hi guys , very new to this whole Air cooled thing.
I would like to change to an electronic ignition system.The local VW repair shop are very reluctant to install a system for me saying stay with the points.
That's fine but its costing heaps as the points keep burning out.
One shops accuses another of cheap points. Either way i feel electronic must have more advantages than disadvantages. I'm in Victoria so who do i go and see to buy a unit and is this something i can do myself with little experience.
I have a 1982 Air Cooled transporter..
Bizarre ·
Do you know what distributor you have at the moment??
I did have an 1982 air cooled transporter and it has a stock electronic dizzy
Do you know if it has been changed for a 009??
If you can set points - you can do a swap over
sinjin ·
Hi and thks for the reply. i have no idea what dizzy is on it at the moment...How do i find out.
You said yours has stock electronic iginition??? i didn't know they cam out with electronic ignition.thought they were all points....or i have simply missread what your saying..
And as for changing points ...Nope never done it but i would like to have a go. Its costing heaps to get them done and really its the reason why i want to change to electronic. And also hoping to get a little better fuel economy.
The Empi / Petronix aint bad
Personally i HATE the quality or rubbish Bosh points even more
GO the electronic - but maybe keep a spare set, or at least joint the NRMA
Have fun 👍
Bizarre ·
PS
Dont expect too much in the way of economy out of an 82 bus
Lovely as they are they are a BIG lump on wheels
I got about 6km/L or 16.5L/100km out of mine - but DAMN you can carry a lot of stuf REAL comfy 😂
Matt Ryan ·
Most important thing to remember to ensure long life of any brand of after market drop in system, is to NEVER leave the ignition on without the engine running, even for the shortest of intervals. If you need to do some testing on some part of the cars wiring, make sure that you pull off the wire(s) that go from the distributor to the coil first, doesn't matter which one, both will break the circuit.
Regards,
Matt.
Joel ·
Sinjin, they keep replacing your points but have any of them replaced the condensor?
they dont last forever either and a dodgy one can fry points
matberry ·
The compufire replaces both points and condensor, i've been useing these for over 12 years. I would have thought all would be the same.
beetleboyjeff ·
I have also been using a compufire - for about 5 or 6 years. No problems except if you connect the wires the wrong way round when re-installing the engine - oops.
sinjin ·
Well thanks guys, very much appreciate the replies and the links.
My 82 is getting about 17 ltrs/100 k...so yr right its very thristy.
My drama started yesterday after not driving it for about 3 months.
When its started almost first shot the lifters were bagging pretty bad. So i let it sit for some time at idle and they quietened a little but not a great deal. After letting it sit for maybe 15 minutes i thought i would go for a run around the block. Was going ok but wouldn't rev out which hadn't been a problem before.
I suspected maybe the points had closed up maybe from corrosion. What would i know anyway i'm just guessing as i know didly squat about these cars.
Anyway just about to turn a corner and its stopped. The engine wouldn't even turn over.
So today i will get one of my mates to give me a tow home.
So as its stands, I am hoping the points are shut....but even if they are welded shut should the engine still turn over? Sorry if i seem thick but i have not much of a clue here but reading as much as i can.
The points and the condenser i know this has been done each time.
Just before the van had been sitting for a few months i had it tuned yet again in less than 2 months from the previous guy. What does make me a little cross about getting it tuned is i say go over the whole thing and just fix it fuel lines whatever and each time i feel the work is a little wanting. So anyway the Points and condenser were replaced.
The reason why it sat was because i just bought another car and not sure what i wanted to do with the Van. I love the way this things drives but the fuel bill was huge.
Can someone tell me how i recognize what dizzy i have have too buy the right compufire system.....or is it a total replacement for the existing dizzy.
Once again thanks heaps for the help.
PS any place in particular i should get the compufire from??
DirkHedde ·
i think its the compufire kits that i was warned about? are these the cheap ones you guys are talking about? i just got a pertonicks kit from another guy who had never fitted it so im going to give this kit a try and see how it goes. i have never used this sort of kit before but with only 2 wires i cant go wrong
lliszabailey ·
hi guys I was about to look for forums that is actually talks about ignition points well i bumb into this forum and i was curious about the electronic points i was confuse what was the difference between the electronic with that ignition points and do Omix Ignition Points have a very good quality?
vlad01 ·
What about Mallory?
Jake Raby uses them on his engines.
DirkHedde wrote:i think its the compufire kits that i was warned about? are these the cheap ones you guys are talking about? i just got a pertonicks kit from another guy who had never fitted it so im going to give this kit a try and see how it goes. i have never used this sort of kit before but with only 2 wires i cant go wrong
Yes, You can..
I know a few guys who thought the same thing....
but You only get ONE chance of getting the wires correct...
if not You blow the sensor......
Now I had a High Power ignition system [in a box] and still used points...
Now the engine started first time every time...
and the points didn't burn etc as there was very little voltage going thru them...
but the points still wore down where they rub on the shaft..
I still used to adjust the points every few months... and the timing was always spot on...
what I didn't realise , was that the rubbing block was made from plastic and it wore down and shorted out and burnt My High Energy ignition out...
Good quality points use bakelite for the rubbing block..
they outlast the points....
I just connected up the condensor to new points and away I went...
I changed to a new bosch SVDA distributor a while back and I have a Pertronix kit to go into the distributor..
LEE
68AutoBug ·
Joel wrote:Sinjin, they keep replacing your points but have any of them replaced the condensor?
they dont last forever either and a dodgy one can fry points
Yes,
points, condensor, rotor , distributor cap ,spark plugs and spark plug leads are all disposible items...
in that order approx..
A condensor is the MAIN item in the Kettering ignition system
if it is faulty, and they do get VERY hot...
they can be the cause of Very Bad burning of points..
which changes the ignition timing of Your engine as the gap is reduced...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best to carry spare points and condensor -- rotor- distributor cap- and one long spark plug lead [so it will fit any spark plug]
and one spark plug..
the spark plug lead and spark plug can be used ones... so can the distributor cap.. and rotor...
so just keep the old ones if they are OK...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
68AutoBug ·
Well
New fuel these days I have been told only lasts 3 months sitting
so it sounds like You have carburetor problems...
the accelerator pump isn't working correctly....
If You have had ethanol fuel in the tank....
it can cause lots of problems with rubber...
LEE
PS: Your distributor may be moving about???
doesn't sound like a good mechanic... LEE
Uber Kafer ·
From what I experienced with a range of distributors from Australian volkswagens, the replacement electronic points hardware wouldnt fit in Australian made Bosch SVDA distributors. The dizzy will have made in Germany or Australia somewhere on the outside/underneath of the body.