I think I cooked my Pertronix...

[Worknclassbug]

I've had the engine out of the Thing for a few months generally cleaning and painting parts and replacing leaky gaskets. I had removed the engine to repair a broken clutch fork and worn out clutch. While I had the engine out I decided to install an electronic ignition. I bench tested it (actually did put the distributor on my work bench and wired it up) and it worked great. I screwed up when I put the engine in the car and accidentally put the positive (ignition on) wire from the car on the negative post of the new coil. I of course had no fire. I quickly figured out the mistake and corrected the wiring but still nothing. I guess I cooked the module. I popped it out and put a new set of points in it's place and the engine fired right up. Looks like I'll just stick with the points for now. Anybody else have an issue like this? Are the Pertronix modules this touchy?
_________________
73 Thing
71 Karmann Ghia (2.2L Subaru Conversion)
72 Deluxe Transporter
Huntington WV
Member of The Wagenfolks

[tallman206]

Been there, done that, I feel your pain, brother.
When I first re-installed my engine, I reversed the Pertronix wires on the coil, but hooked up the #15 wire to the correct location, thereby effectively reverse wiring the Pertronix as you had done. Reverse wirirng WILL blow the Pertronix. Second Pertronix was installed and wired correctly and has worked properly ever since. Still, with its faults, I think Pertronix is a much better solution than points, as they don't wear and cause timing/dwell changes.

[jeromevw312]

pertronix will also burn out if you leave the ignition on for too long with out the engine running, They are touchy, but running points in the 21st century is kinda silly in anything that isn't Bloomington gold material.

[Glenn]

[uberautowerks]

Is it really a "Fault" if you hook it up backwards and it blows?

Seems kinda like putting gas in a diesel. It's a stupid, expensive mistake. But not a fault of the design.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[Wildthings]

[jeromevw312]

Every air cooled vw i have had i swapped out the points for a pertronix and the car instantly ran smoother, stronger, and got better gas millage. granted, when i was 17 and self taught it took one less variable for me to get it in tune. My grandfather had the same argument that points could always get adjusted and get you home, while electronics fail and leave you stranded. Points worked for millions of cars for millions of miles, I just enjoy taking advantage of modern technology in my old cars.
In my humble opinion, still running points is like still running bias ply tires.

[Glenn]

[Worknclassbug]

[Semper_Dad]

As the old adage says "It's good to learn from your own mistakes, even better and cheaper to learn from someone else". Thanks for sharing.

I worry about cooking my points when I leave my ignition on for long periods of time without the engine running. Hasn't happened so far but there's no reason why it can't happen. Wish there was an accessory position on the ignition switch.

The argument between points verses electronic is a long and sensitive issue. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Since I don't believe this was the point of your thread, I won't address it further. Thanks again.
_________________
Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

[Worknclassbug]

[doublecanister]

hey WorkingClassbug,

you've steped into a 'touchy subject" here.

My 2 cents,

On my 66' Mustang, the pertronix II system worked fine for about 1 year, then I fried it by leaving the key on doing some interrior re-wiring.
Totally my fault, but I was a bit miffed, that's why I bought the ignitor II
it was "SUPPOSED" to have a built in kill switch for key on situations, so much for that.
I had no idea (that leaving the key on) touched so many different electrical devices, (starter solinoid, coil, voltage regulator, the Ignitor II and a few other wires and things that got rather hot from doing that).
Lesson learned.

The stang hasnt run with the same pep since, I put it back to points and havent changed it yet, all my FORD buddies swear by Mallory Ignition sytems there.

I too, would like to do reinstall a pertronix agian on the Stang and possibly the THING, but as some of the guys stated, these Vw's run real good on points, not sure how much "Go" you'd gain on the Vw engine, but
it made my 289 scratch 2nd gear with an automatic in the Mustang, wont do it on points, even after mucking with the timing.

Some guys have had them for 10 years with no trouble, but spare point's are way cheaper than a spare pertronix module.

Personally, I was satisfied with the 'hidden look' and the performance, but it's short life for what ever reason, tainted the sweetnesss a bit.

Right now, I'm on the fence on the VW and pertronix, but I did enjoy
the "GO" in the Mustang!

For what it's worth!

T.
_________________
****************************************
2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8

[uberautowerks]

To Worknclassbug ... "stupid" wasn't my best choice of words at the moment. Sorry.

The post was referring more to Tallman's comment about "Faults".

I too burned up my first electronic ignition unit by hooking it up backwards.

For what it's worth.... I use the electronic modules because they are water proof. Period.
The same reason I use the Type 3 "Boots" at the spark plugs and grease w zipties on the plug wire boots.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[Scorcho]

I accidentally think I left my ignition switch to on with a pertronix . However, I was able to start it up and drive back home with no problems.

If I had indeed left my ignition switch on and the electric points would have burned up, would I have been able to drive t and start it just fine multiple times?

[doublecanister]