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Mon Aug 18, 2025 7:17 pm

So I have a FI 1978 Bus with electronic ignition.

It was running fine then I had some points burn out. I have fixed that problem but now the engine spins but doesn't fire. I've gotten it to start maybe once after about 3 attempts. If I get it to run it's fine going down the road but it just doesn't start!

I found out I had a bad battery so I got a new one, also replaced the ignition coil which fixed a slow start issue.

It appears to be getting spark
It floods so it's getting fuel.

Any help would be appreciated

Mon Aug 18, 2025 7:24 pm

did you replace the capacitor? Normally when they go bad that is why points burn.

Mon Aug 18, 2025 7:31 pm

SGKent wrote: did you replace the capacitor? Normally when they go bad that is why points burn.

Ended up swapping in an electronic ignition unit. Since this happened 3 times.

Mon Aug 18, 2025 8:02 pm

750,000 miles and I never "burned" points suddenly. They do slowly pit and wear out at 12,000 - 15,000 miles typically. Since we now know full story, go back over your wiring on the electronic ignition. If that fails, swap in your spare set of points, or electronic module, and see what happens. Keep in mind that 1979 had two factory ignition coils. One was solely for the VW electronic ignition in California and the other was for points, e.g., Federal. Also many aftermarket ignitions require a special coil to work right. Some aftermarket electronic ignitions will not work with L-Jet because it uses the coil pulse as the starting point to shape the injector signal.

Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:22 pm

SGKent wrote: 750,000 miles and I never "burned" points suddenly. They do slowly pit and wear out at 12,000 - 15,000 miles typically. Since we now know full story, go back over your wiring on the electronic ignition. If that fails, swap in your spare set of points, or electronic module, and see what happens. Keep in mind that 1979 had two factory ignition coils. One was solely for the VW electronic ignition in California and the other was for points, e.g., Federal. Also many aftermarket ignitions require a special coil to work right. Some aftermarket electronic ignitions will not work with L-Jet because it uses the coil pulse as the starting point to shape the injector signal.

Interesting to know about the LJet and Electronic crossovers. The unit is a Pertronix ignitor, the original one.

Mines a 1978 Federal so luckily no special junk is required or replaced. I'll see what I can do with a set of points

Mon Aug 18, 2025 11:01 pm

I would try an echlin capacitor from your local Napa Auto just to be safe. ECH EP433 at $18 is the part.

Or if you can wait, get a Standard Motor Products GB160 @$8 from RockAuto.

don't forget points grease on the lobes and to put a couple drops of oil on the wick under the rotor.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 11:07 pm

Check you have 12 volts on the coil when its cranking. Ignition switches go bad.