Need Your Advice - Could It Be The Coil?

[mercury 0]

Hello Guys,

 

my 205 gti 1.9 (1988) starts to lose spark when its warm. When i try to start her back again she wont start because there is no spark.

 

I just recently changed the distributor cap and have ordered a set of spark plug leads and spark plugs were changed about a month ago.

 

So after i change all this and it still does it, would you guys say it is the coil that needs replacing? Do coils have a short lifespan? Not sure how long this coil has been on the car but it doesnt look too old. Then again not sure what the history is. How long do coils usually last for anway?

 

Cheers,

Merc

[Sandy 191]

Worth a try, they don't last forever.

[DamirGTI 342]

Could be coil , but id try with some known good ignition amp first

 

Rgs !

Damir

[matty_gti 20]

Could be coil , but id try with some known good ignition amp first

 

Rgs !

Damir

 

Id try an ign amp first also, had these kind of problems before.

[mercury 0]

Id try an ign amp first also, had these kind of problems before.

 

is the ignition amplifier also called an "ignition module" ?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Yes it is. If you fit a new one be sure to get some of the heatsink compound to go on the back, this is quite important. Look on ebay for "heatsink compound" you should find some easily, it is not expensive either.

[mercury 0]

ok sweet, thanks for that. WIll buy some before installation.

 

Also is the replacement a pretty much bolt for bolt srtaight foward swap? IS there anything i should know other than the heatsink compund before replacing the old ones with new ones? Like there is no danger of me getting electrcuted somehow?

 

Merc

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Unplug, undo two screws, clean the plate it mounts to, apply heat compound to back of new module, screw it back to plate, plug it back in. Done.

[mercury 0]

nice u make it sounds so easy. I really do hope it is. Heres a pic of it.

 

Notice that metal thing with holes that the module and the coil is mounted to.

 

Is that thing stock?

 

 

edit: also ive noticed that when i took the photos, the screws are on very lose... Could this cause an ignition module fault? Or the mounts dont really matter?

Edited August 24, 2008 by mercury

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

The plate is standard yes, but it looks like someone has drilled a load of holes in it as they are not usually there.

[jackherer 543]

It looks like someones drilled the holes in a misguided attempt to improve cooling but it probably just needs cleaning up and some new thermal transfer paste.

[mercury 0]

hey yur right. It was just cleaning and new thermal paste. SHe runs great now.

 

Also re-soldered the wired that ocnnects to the dizzy. it aws actually that very wire that was causing all the problems and not the ignition coil or ignition amp.

 

Cheers,

Merc