TheSamba.com :: View topic - I just installed Accufire Electronic ignition.

Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:30 pm

Hi again

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D5844

Here is the link to the ignition I just installed. As perscribed it does install easy but sounds like my timing is way off. It started up but won't idle at low rpm's. I drove it around the block and when I accelerated is sputtered then went. I feel like I am so close to getting my second repair completed. I had to replace the starter twice (since first one was defect).

Has anyone ever replaced points with this and what if any problems did you have. I have a stock 009 dist I think as those numbers appear on the side of the distributor. I have new bosch coil (stock number 00012 9 220 081 083-74u). It really seems to simple to mess up so I am confused.

thanks in advance
Musky

Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:21 pm

Too bad you didn't spend a little more and get a pertronix,What I've heard the empi ones aren't the greatest,but,it may be o.k. Have you put a timing light on you motor? With a 009 you,need to rev the motor up to 3000rpm,set the timing at about 28-30 degrees and it should run fine.

Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:50 pm

ottobahn wrote: With a 009 you,need to rev the motor up to 3000rpm,set the timing at about 28-30 degrees and it should run fine.

Do I need to adjust the timing when putting an electronic ignition in?

I still might buy the petronix if this doesn't work out. My coil is a 12 volt and my battery is a 6 volt because I have a generator. I think that part is correct.

It ran great this weekend. We drove it 400 miles with no timing issues at all. I was given this accufire for free from seller. He said it would help cold starts and help with gas mileage. I destroyed the points when taking them apart. So the problems started after I installed the accufire. I did install it incorrectly the first time and fried the free one. I bought an identical one figuring that it would be good enough. I thought about upgrading to petronix but was unaware of brand differences.

Question then is there a big difference between PERTRONIX and accufire? And When making the switch from points to electronic igintion is retiming required?

ps. My brother is a well versed mechanic. Over the phone he thinks since I did not adjust the timing at all (during install) and it ran good before the switch I might have cracked the cap in the process. Does this sound possible?

Thanks musky

Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:41 pm

Sorry for double post but I did find the error in my runnability. Thanks to advice on this post.

The timing was off. Approx 2-4 degrees. I marked it with a felt tip marker and made one small adj clockwise then counter and the counter fixed all running problems. I am not sure how this happen. I don't think a adjustment is required after installing this product. I did notice something that does need fixing. The collar that locks the distributor in place can not be tightened any further. There is a nut on the back side of the distibutor that can not be reached (with a wrench or pliers) or fixed and it keeps spinning with the bolt I am tightening. With it as tight as I can get it I can still grip it and move it. I need to move the bolt collar assembly on the drivers side of the distributor. It currently sits on the passengerside. I am not sure if I can switch it without removing the distributor itself. I will take some pics tomorrow and post if someone needs to see this. Is taking the distibutor out risky or dangerous at this point.

Thanks for help. Looks like I will be rewiring this late fall in St Louis. Mo.

musky

ps. Is counter clockwise advanced?

Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:53 pm

You did the right thing by resetting your timing after the compufire install. The pick up is in a slightly different location from the stock points and you have to compensate for that by a few degrees.

Sun Aug 13, 2006 7:59 pm

I was really confused and even replaced cap & rotor incase I damaged it. The classic backfire was telling me it was tioming so I figured it couln't hurt to try. Turned out to be easiest fix yet...LoL! :)

Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:53 am

Good job! Keep the extra cap & rotor for spares.

Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:19 am

How can you have a 6 volt battery running a 12 volt coil? What year is your bug? Thats sounds fishy to me. Electronic ignition will not increase gas mileage,all it does is give you quicker start ups,no points to adjust,and your timing will stay steady and not change. Be forwarned,it it fails,your stuck on the side of the road. Carry an extra set of points and condenser just in case. The difference between pertronix and accufire is pertronix has a better track record for reliability.The nut on the back of the distributor can be held with an offset wrench. Did you use a timing light to set the timing?

Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:37 pm

ottobahn wrote: How can you have a 6 volt battery running a 12 volt coil? What year is your bug? Thats sounds fishy to me. Electronic ignition will not increase gas mileage,all it does is give you quicker start ups,no points to adjust,and your timing will stay steady and not change. Be forwarned,it it fails,your stuck on the side of the road. Carry an extra set of points and condenser just in case. The difference between pertronix and accufire is pertronix has a better track record for reliability.The nut on the back of the distributor can be held with an offset wrench. Did you use a timing light to set the timing?

I have been corrected. My brother, whom I idol as a know it all mechanic, told me all beetles with generators are 6 volt. So of course I believed him. Not until I had the battery tested at AZ did I get a history of 6vlt vrs 12 vlt.

It is a 12 volt so I am sorry for my bad post. Thanks for keeping me inline.

No I diid not use a timing light. I made a mark with a marker then I adjusted one way then realized quickly that this was wrong direction and went counterclockwise until seemed to idle smooth. A few test drives and small adjustments all backfires are gone.

As far as extra parts. I will save old cap and rotor and have another ignitor to spare. I did have a problem setting .060 gap between circular disc and the ignitor itself. I folded over some skinney strip of paper until I got it close to .060 and shoved disc down on the paper then slid it out undisturbed. This is more important than the directions implied.

Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:49 pm

Do yourself a favor and check the timing with a light or take it to someone who has one.

http://www.type2.com/library/electrip/bosch009.htm

By the way, the 009 was never stock on any VW that I am aware of.

Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:16 pm

I had an old friend that just gave me his timing light. I can check but will need to guess at RPMs w/o a tach. The engine is far from stock. Dual Kadron carbs, slight cam and few others. I can only assume that he put this dist on this engine before I bought it. The engine now has 1000 miles on it now. The last three numbers on the side of the dist read 009. Does that mean I have a oo9 dist?

Here is a pic. Feel free to help me with any issues. I need a breather filter near the oil filler cap and the tins are new but need to be screwed in place. Outside of that I need to either find a source(power) or figure out a way to bring power to the liscence plate light.

Thanks for the tip on the 009. I will make good use to the timing light this weekend.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:03 am

Heres how to set up timing on a 009. Loosen the distributor enough to turn it.Start the car,squeeze the trigger on the light at idle,then start reving the motor up pretty high. You will see the timing changes as you rev it up to around 3000 rpm.When its reved up is the time to set the timing,set it around 28-30 degrees. My car seems to like 28 degrees,if I go higher than that my engine pings.I noticed the marks you had on your distributor so you look like you are pretty close with the new ignition,thats about how far I had to turn mine when I put in the electronic ignition.I hope I gave you good advice,if I'm wrong someone else can chime in! The Ken Hooper article is great on a previous post,I handn't noticed that,pretty much what I said.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:16 pm

I must have just got lucky. I had it at about 28 or 29 and we set it to 30. The timining light that was given to me was so old the wires cracked as I unravaled it. I had to get a new one as I was paraniod about running too rich or too lean. The numbers on the crank made it a breeze to set.

musky

ps Thanks for all the help on this one.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:02 am

Great looking vert! Sound like you got the timing set right now,does it run o.k? So far I've had real good luck running electonic ignition.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:48 pm

Just the smallest adjustment has solved lots of what I thought might be questionable runnability. Slightly high idle has disappeared and all backfiring has completely gone. They were only slight and uncommon. We really have not driven it much since new electronic ignition. Me wife 3 new seat belts and the three rug rats went for a evening ride. AWWWSOME! :)

I next need to tackle the no crank no start gremlin. I have yet have it happen at home in the garage. Then I can test the starter for power. If it gets full power then bad starter is culprit. I have feeling its either Voltage reg or ignition switch. Time will tell.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:26 am

i just installed this same setup in my buggy and cant get it to work any ideas

Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:07 am

Are you getting spark?

Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:39 am

muskylounge wrote: I have been corrected. My brother, whom I idol as a know it all mechanic, told me all beetles with generators are 6 volt. So of course I believed him.

I would seriously doubt his knowledge base after a statement like that. As you surely know by now, all VWs from the early '60s (can't remember the exact year just now...) on were 12V, regardless of whether it had a generator or alternator. Alternators came out in (or around) '73.

Glad you got it fixed! Here's the lesson for ya - anytime you make any changes or upgrades to any distributor-based ignition system, check and adjust the timing (and dwell, if you are using points).

Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:42 am

Alister wrote: muskylounge wrote: I have been corrected. My brother, whom I idol as a know it all mechanic, told me all beetles with generators are 6 volt. So of course I believed him.

I would seriously doubt his knowledge base after a statement like that. As you surely know by now, all VWs from the early '60s (can't remember the exact year just now...) on were 12V, regardless of whether it had a generator or alternator. Alternators came out in (or around) '73.

Glad you got it fixed! Here's the lesson for ya - anytime you make any changes or upgrades to any distributor-based ignition system, check and adjust the timing (and dwell, if you are using points).
Uh... you're replying to a 3 year old post and the poster hasn't logged in since:
Quote: Last Visited: May 20, 2007