Ignition coil sparking

i am thinking the coil is kaput and i need a new one but i just wanted to check before i spent the money.

looking at one of these on Fleabay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-2-SCIROCCO-Coil-for-Electronic-ignition-Mk2-Golf-Corrado-Caddy-84-/391463516094?hash=item5b250b37be:g:7A8AAOSwrnNXQTwp

the car starts and runs but i am getting sparks coming off the coil conections. and it runs a little bumpy just slightly though.

My question is should i get a new coil ordered or should i be looking at something else as the cause and which one do i need

Mk1 cabriolet 1987
TIA

Not sure which one you need but someone will.

But unless everything else is fairly new I'd buy a full set of leads and dizzy cap at the same time.

At least that way you know you've dealt with a number of potential headaches in one go! 👍

yeh i am thinking leads as well, its on the list. i changed the plugs and even though a bit sooty they seemed ok so put some fresh ones in. only just saw the sparking as it was dark. . i think i can order one from heritage and they get it too me super quick.

I am just chasing each of the problems back. starting to get there just slowly working through them. so many dodgy wires so i am trying to clean them away and tidy them up.

Sounds like you are taking the right approach but do replace the leads, cap and the HT lead of course.

For the cost of the parts I just wouldn't start to play detective at this time unless you've got time on your hands and a heated garage! 👍 😀

TZoo5446 said

i am thinking the coil is kaput and i need a new one but i just wanted to check before i spent the money.

looking at one of these on Fleabay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-2-SCIROCCO-Coil-for-Electronic-ignition-Mk2-Golf-Corrado-Caddy-84-/391463516094?hash=item5b250b37be:g:7A8AAOSwrnNXQTwp

the car starts and runs but i am getting sparks coming off the coil conections. and it runs a little bumpy just slightly though.

My question is should i get a new coil ordered or should i be looking at something else as the cause and which one do i need

Mk1 cabriolet 1987
TIA

Usually, if engine is miss firing a bit and  the coil is sparking from the leads next to the coil, then  the coil either has electrical short on its face from the HT or other wires or their touching something they shouldn't. Can you actually see where it is sparking from and too?
 It can be the lead/s to the dizzy  or  dizzy cap itself or points/ rotor (if it has them).
Coils tend to die, eventually though this can happen if coil is overheating, shows up when engine hot, car stops , cools down, then off you go again.
From your description it sounds like an HT arc or tracking with the HT spark being lost to somewhere.
 Before you spend ANY money remove the HT lead from the coil and all other leads to it, then spray all including into the open HT socket with wd40-then try again. May cure it.
If your really stuck for money I could lend you a coil but would have to charge postage and would want it posted back as even though its ChristmasI need it for my Mk2.
Good luckMarcus.

It is only a realy mild misfire, it makes the engine chug a bit when idle-ing

it looks like it is sparking to from what i think is the(-) negative conection, which is the one in the plastic block, to the HT lead that goes to the dizzy. when i looked closer it was also sparking on the wire on the other side of the pastic block. It is sparking out the back of the block not the spade conector end.

very genorous of you marcus but i am considering just getting a new one and the leads, as Golf Cabrio says. The poor thing has not had a lot of attention so i am just trying to treat it good. It runs beautiful apart from this little murmur

Oh yeh i am defo going to try the wd40 method as well, so that i can get it running for now. but one of the leads to spark plug is a bit loose so i need to get a set of HT leads anyway

Sparking Fairies are a result of the high tension circuitry being damp with dew, or moisture, and when you tried to start the car the moisture shorted to ground and left carbon tracks on the components.

Easy Cheezy method is to break the tracks with sand paper and then spray with WD-40.  I have seen cars fail to start because of it.

Easiest way to find the said tracks are to open the hood and blacken it with a blanket or dead of night and start the car.

I would inspect the inside of the Dizzy Cap (I usually use a rub or 2 of 200grit )on the inside of the cap, the tension towers,  and rotor.

Used to have a Midget that would fail to run after driving through a pool…… lesson learned.  WD-40 Sand Paper and Krylon Clear Paint.  

Thanks for your advice guys i will give it a go today and have a bit of a clean up session. I have found a copy of the bently manual on line and it has a few little cleaning tips in there as well. i will eventually need to replace some if not all the parts but for now it will be good to fix it with out spending. they are not on the list yet and the list is longoh briano you drove a midget into a pool. is that like a rock and roll thing

TZoo5446 said

Thanks for your advice guys i will give it a go today and have a bit of a clean up session. I have found a copy of the bently manual on line and it has a few little cleaning tips in there as well. i will eventually need to replace some if not all the parts but for now it will be good to fix it with out spending. they are not on the list yet and the list is longoh briano you drove a midget into a pool. is that like a rock and roll thing

   

Sandpaper, Wire brushes Brass, Stainless round and flat, go a long way to assisting with connection issues as well as a INK-eraser, Corrosion Preventative Spray.

I also found that Battery Corrosion Spray to be effective as well.

Oh, and riddle me this?

What do Divorces, great Coffee, and electrics all have in common.










Good Grounds.

Briano1234 said

Sandpaper, Wire brushes Brass, Stainless round and flat, go a long way to assisting with connection issues as well as a INK-eraser, Corrosion Preventative Spray.

I also found that Battery Corrosion Spray to be effective as well.

Oh, and riddle me this?

What do Divorces, great Coffee, and electrics all have in common.










Good Grounds.

I think it this:
Briano, you were in the street, under your car, fixing a dodgy horn ( ) when a hot Babe went past ,you stopped,she stopped and then… asked you in 'for a coffee'…so you throw your tools down and follow like a puppy…a few minutes later your wife comes by and smells a rat -as "you never EVER leave that bloody golf alone"- and catches you two grinding
  (the beans )  
Result? There's bean an electrifying divorce

and it is sorted. cheers for the advice


as you can see there was a little bit of dirt on there, so got it all cleaned of and did the wd40 and wet n dry to scuff it up. so cleaned the whole near by area as well. just to make sure. i am planning to get some fresh leads in the future as one of them is a bit loose.

Thanks as now i can go spend the money on something else, more needed. like that leak that is defo coming from the manifold. so i am thinking about taking it on if its not too bad.or i may just see the price from a mechanic. then it is freshly done and a bit easier to take off when i think about a nice new manifold  that flows a bit better

Daytona said

I think it this:
Briano, you were in the street, under your car, fixing a dodgy horn ( ) when a hot Babe went past ,you stopped,she stopped and then… asked you in 'for a coffee'…so you throw your tools down and follow like a puppy…a few minutes later your wife comes by and smells a rat -as "you never EVER leave that bloody golf alone"- and catches you two grinding
  (the beans )  
Result? There's bean an electrifying divorce

Well, I have been working on my first Divorce since 1979, about 37 years.  As a fact of matter, you are right I would never leave my Cabriolet on the side of the road, Let alone my Midget….  

The first time I got stranded was in my Midget, and a friend of my fathers showed me the sparking fairies, and 30 seconds later I was driving off, that was 72 or 73.   

GROUNDS? I had a car that was temperamental, wouldn't start @ 50f and 100 percent humidity.
I rebuilt the Dizzy and 2 months later same thing…I got so mad a wet wrench flew out of my hands and fell across the Negative Battery Cable and frame…..It Sparked….. So 5 quid later, and a new ground cable and I never had another issue. I actually think I scared the car, when the wrench flew out of my hands more in disgust than accident.

Some lessons you learn by being taught, and some lessons you learn by accident.

Briano1234 sounds like at least one or more lessons  you're still paying for! 🤔😉

But sound advice all the same. 👍

So while I have the chance, happy holidays, from over the pond or a very Happy New Year if you happen to be this side and some in my case. 😂🎆🎉

yeh man sound advice and got it sorted. i did the sound proofing today and with a bit of luck the wheel cylinder should come tomorrow. and i can go for a test drive.

happy holidays

When you change your HT leads, replace dissy cap and rotor arm at the same time.
Keep the old stuff in the boot and they can be a spare just in case.

Bosch or Beru are the better makes out there.

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/g1electrical.php