924Board.org

xanderdeg · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:53 pm Post subject: Ignition coil puking...

So I spent the day troubleshooting my cooling fan problem. And then drove home. After an hour at home I went out and put in a new intake boot. Test drove it, parked it, put the ignition on and listened to music for 45 minutes to an hour.

Then I smell this burning smell....

Turned the ignition off, popped the hood, and see (and hear) my ignition coil puking black sludge out the top.

So my question is: What the F*ck just happened to my ignition?!?

Pics:

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macBdog · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject:

Haha what part of "left the ignition on for 45 minutes" tipped you off? You overheated your ignition coil... In normal operation it should never be excited for that long.
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1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

xanderdeg · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:14 pm Post subject:

Really? When I do the same thing in newer cars the coil doesn't overheat. Just an old car thing?

Anyways, I don't know much about ignition coils...

I'm guessing I can't drive my car until i get a new one?

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Yep. Time for a new coil.

Here's description from another site:

xanderdeg · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

Shoot...

Well I guess I won't be doing that again!

Thanks guys, don't know where I'd be without this board

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Your ignition switch should have a "key in" position that powers certain accessories just by putting the key IN to the cylinder, but not turning it. Once you turn it, the ignition circuit is activated, and of course, when you engage it, the starter kicks in until you release.

Point being, if your radio is wired in correctly (and by correct, I mean the way it was from the factory), you should be able to have it on without turning the key at all, thereby avoiding the meltdown. After you get your coil fixed, you should look into the radio wiring.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

xanderdeg · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:43 pm Post subject:

Will do.

Your website doesn't supply coils does it? I looked but couldnt find them outside of the tune up kits

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Yep, we can get that for you. PM on it's way.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

!tom · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:00 pm Post subject:

It's the early ROW cars that have points; his should have electronic ignition.

Same principle applies, except it's through a transistor rather than points.

Don't have the key in the run position unless the engine is running! And that's not just for cars of that vintage; the same is true in much more modern cars as well.
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78 924 NA
5-lug

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

macBdog · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:46 am Post subject:

I've seen plenty of cars with an aftermarket radio wired in to the wrong circuit so the ignition has to be on for the radio to work.

To add confusion to the matter, people use the turn of phrase "leave the ignition on" when they mean the accessories circuit.
_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI