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Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor?
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Pastelweis
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:44 am    Post subject: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

Hi there fellow Sambans,

I am having electrical issues with my Vanagon (what’s new eh?). It started out with the engine sudden and randomly dying when driving at around everywhere from 20 to 80 mph, sometimes re-igniting after a couple of tries sometimes not igniting at all and had to be towed.

I took it to a mechanic and he replaced the distributor, sparks and spark plug wires for an arm and a leg. But the problem persisted.

Then I had a bad break in where they completely destroyed the ignition by cracking the aluminum casing open. This has since then been replaced.

After finding this video;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95PkgSavOCo

I briefly thought I had solved it by bypassing the tachometer wire (the double green ones) leading to the ignition coil, since it fired up immediatly stone cold after trying it, boy was I happy, but turned out to be short lived as it died again and wouldn’t re-ignite after just a short drive.

Now for my actual question (realizing my problem could be a bunch of things from a bad ground to the ECU being shot), I want to try out replacing the ignition coil next, as that may be the issue? I am looking at a cheap no-name third party one at a local car parts chain here, and it says;

“High performance Ignition Coil, If the car is already equipped with a resistor, it must be replaced with the supplied ballast resistor.”

Link to part in question; https://www.biltema.se/en-se/car---mc/car-spares/i...2000017985

So, is a 89 Vanagon GL Westfalia equipped with a resistor, and if yes, how do I bypass it? Bonus thanks if one can point to where I can find it and as always, very greatful for any helpful answers ...
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:53 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

Word of advice?

Don't go buying a cheap no name coil.
What you'll end up with is a cheap no name coil that may or, more likely, may not work properly.

Dave
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Pastelweis
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:24 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

You are probably right, thank you for steering me straight. The thing is I’ve read here that Bosch (expensive) parts aren’t what they used to be, so figured I temporarily get a cheap one to ”trouble shoot” but as they (and I) normally say buying cheap is expensive ... At least I’ll have replaced an expendable part, even if my problem will persist. Probably due anyway ...
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kamzcab86
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:31 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

If you have a North American '89 Vanagon, it came with a 5-pin diode relay for the Digifant system. If you're having starting and cutting-out issues, refer to this: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9167841#9167841 .

You'll also want to download the Pro-Training Manual, if you haven't already: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=725680 .
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:54 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

Looks like OP may be in Stockholm.
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bobbyblack Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:57 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

Replace the ignition switch (behind/under the key tumbler on the steering column). Get two when you order, keep the second one for doing it again when the newly replaced one fails after a few years. (or is bad out of the box). They are wear items. Keep keys from hanging from the key in the ignition key tumbler. One key on the ring is best advice regardless of make or model of any vehicle.

But, it sounds more like your Hall wire or unit in the distributor than a coil.
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 9:32 am    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

You would want a coil that has an internal resistor, or would need to ADD an external one.

Ignition coils will typically either not fire up a cold engine because of the low voltage getting to the coil during cranking, or begin to create a misfire as the coil gets hot.

The relays and ignition switch can cause random cutting out, as can the wiring for the Hall Sender.

Do you have Digifant or Digijet?
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Pastelweis
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 3:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

I have a Digifant since it is an 89. I got a new coil but bus still wouldn’t start, but then as I grounded the new coil properly it started right away and then the next day it didn’t fire. At all.

I then replaced one of the relays in the black plastic box above coil, the left one as in drivers side. Engine has not cut out sine. I ordered a new switch but will only install if the issue occurs again to know the culprit.

Thank you to everyone who weighed in and shared info!
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DanHoug
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

ballast resistors were a function of limiting current thru the contact points on Kettering systems. the ballast resistor was bypassed during cranking to give full voltage to the coil but then the resistor was put in line for the "Run" key position to limit points face wear and keep the coil cooler.

the Digifant ECI does the ballast resistor thing automagically to my understanding.
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bobbyblack Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 1:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

I recently had a coil go bad, and decided I wanted to know a little more about how these things work.

Here is a youtube of a crafty tech. that helps me understand what might be happening. I am not saying this is what happened to my coil, but if it is happening, I sure would want to know about it sooner rather than later.


Link


I don't have access to the kind of equipment that this guy does, so I'd rather like to know how a general knowledge guy like myself could determine if I am getting multi-strike, having too much voltage running into the coil, all that sort of stuff without taking it in for an analysis by a scanner like that.

Is this a 'touch it after its been running a while' kind of thing? If its frickin hot, then put more ballast in the positive side (after letting it get full voltage on the start circuit like in the below explanation of what a ballast resistor is)?


Link

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RawUmber
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 5:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

Adding a ballast seems like working around the problem rather than fixing it. I'd suspect the coil or ECU. If it's now reliable and the owner is happy, I suppose that's what counts.

bobbyblack wrote:
I don't have access to the kind of equipment that this guy does, so I'd rather like to know how a general knowledge guy like myself could determine if I am getting multi-strike, having too much voltage running into the coil, all that sort of stuff without taking it in for an analysis by a scanner like that.

Judging from the coil signal on his scope during the 'multistrike' phenomenon (~5 extra pulses each time), there is a good chance that it would be visible by the tach pegging much higher than actual, possibly erratically. Then again, it's also possible the tach will filter out pulses above a certain frequency so that it might not be noticeable. Can't say for sure without testing.
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Does an 89 Vanagon have an Ignition Coil ballast resistor? Reply with quote

The normal method is to buy a coil and a matching ballast resister. It one thought that the ECU was causing extra sparking due to not enough resistance, it would be easy enough to buy several different ballast resisters and give each a try starting with the one with the lowest resistance.
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