bugger

ok spent all day chasing crap wires.
My type 1 died this week,just cut out and stopped. it turns over ok but no spark. I have voltage at the coil and all conected ok. tried two coils and still no spark. leads ok, plugs ok, battery ok how can i check the coil any ideas on anything else?????????????????????????????? the lost pom.

Hmmm... have you checked the points are opening and closing ok ???

clyve wrote:ok spent all day chasing crap wires.
My type 1 died this week,just cut out and stopped. it turns over ok but no spark. I have voltage at the coil and all conected ok. tried two coils and still no spark. leads ok, plugs ok, battery ok how can i check the coil any ideas on anything else?????????????????????????????? the lost pom.

If Your points have worn down too far You won't get any spark

also check the rotor button in the distributor..
there is a resistor in the top of the rotor button that can burn out...

and condensors can fail at any time...

that is why You should always carry spares...

also check the hi tension cable between the coil and distributor... I have broken the conductor in them even when brand new, just by pulling/pushing them..

if You have the original wire type of spark plug leads then no problems..

seems its either Your condensor.. points closed - or high tensile lead or the rotor button...

also just check that the carbon contact in the top of the inside of the distributor cap hasn't fallen out..

cheers

LEE

thanks guys sorry to play dumb but what does the condenser do?
will check the rest

it lets the engin work and as for the points closing been there took 2 hours to work it out ,i spent 1.5 hours cursing vw's all better now me and kombi,i should have worked it out they were a new set and not worn in yet now they are

The condensor helps the points last by filtering the voltage spikes that occur as the points open and close.

Feel free to give me a call tomorrow if you haven't fixed it yet.

clyve wrote:thanks guys sorry to play dumb but what does the condenser do?
will check the rest

simply put - the condensor makes the spark.. with the help of the points -which switch it on & off - and the coil...

originally, in the old days, the points, condensor, rotor button , spark plugs and distributor cap were all replaced at least once a year. [approx]
You kept the old ones for spares..

a Condensor can go intermittant where it works until it gets very hot then stops working until it cools down...
but they aren't made to last forever

Points: there are good points [BERU-BOSCH-] and there are others with a plastic rubbing block.. which wears a lot faster that the bakelite ones.. and grease should be applied to make sure they last a bit longer..

I had a high enegy ignition system that burned out when the points wore down and the plastic bit twisted and shorted out..
I had adjusted them a few times.. [lesson learned]

cheers

LEE

Hi Matt

I wrote this before You posted your reply

but been watching the tennis ....

Lee