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Notrab
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2017
Posts: 41
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 Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:38 pm Post subject: Distributor misfire |
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| Stock 1600 type 1 with stock distributor stopped firing on number 3. When I pull the wire from the cap and hold it an inch or 2 from the cap it starts to run smooth again. It’s getting spark constant to the end of the wire at both ends. Bad cap. |
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vwoldbug
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009
Posts: 1214
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| Have you looked at the spark plug yet. |
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Notrab
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2017
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| I did the first time it happened. It looked ok then. Both times it happened it was very cold. I determined which cylinder it was and literally took my finger nail to the pickup inside the cap and it worked. This time it didn’t. Will check the plug next. What makes it fire when I make it arc to the cap. |
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67rustavenger 
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9772
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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Make sure that the #3 spark plug insulator is screwed into the end of the spark plug wire.
If you pull on the wire and not the insulator when removing the wire from the plug. It can pull the wire out of the insulator.
Look inside the cap for carbon tracks from one lug to another. That can cause the #3 plug not to fire.
I can't explain the reason why the plug will fire when the wire is held 1-2 inches away from the cap.
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Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
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klroger
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2017
Posts: 151
Location: deep river, Ottawa Valley
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 6:37 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| 67rustavenger wrote: |
I can't explain the reason why the plug will fire when the wire is held 1-2 inches away from the cap. |
We used to do this to help flooded cars start in the winter. The extra gap increases the voltage the coil will put out & sometimes it's enough to make a fouled plug spark.
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I Didn't know what to do, So I Didn't do anything!!!! |
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61SNRF
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2009
Posts: 4657
Location: Whittier 90602
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:08 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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Yep, don't shoot the distributor, you've got a fouled spark plug.
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-Bruce
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. |
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ashman40
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007
Posts: 15987
Location: North Florida, USA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| Notrab wrote: |
| When I pull the wire from the cap and hold it an inch or 2 from the cap it starts to run smooth again. |
Just to be clear on what you are saying...
Engine misfiring.
You remove the #3 plug wire from the distributor cap post.
As you slowly pull the end of the plug wire away from the distributor cap there is not spark jumping from the cap to the end of the wire.
As you pull the plug wire further away and reach about 2inch from the post a spark starts jumping that air gap.
As mentioned above, this sounds like a problem with the spark plug. Pull the plug and confirm if it is fouled. Also pull on the top electrode end. Sometimes they separate internally and the tip of the plug will pull out.
Additionally, test the resistance thru each of your plug wires. Generally, all the plug wires should have around the same resistance. Longer suppression wires may have slightly more resistance. Try flexing the wires as you measure the resistance. Sometimes there are internal breaks in the wire that open/close when you move the wires around. If you find these, repair or replace the wires.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road  }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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leowagen
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2018
Posts: 171
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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I had a similar issue with my first bug about 20 years ago. It happened to have a worn lobe in the distributor, so the corresponding plug was not sparking as it should. At first I used to adjust my points according the worn lobe, which more or less worked, but then had issues with the least worn one since point gap was now too big.... I ended using a point-less Pertronix unit and forgot about the issue.
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raydog
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2006
Posts: 1163
Location: Cape Cod
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| Swap plug to another cylinder and see if the problem follows. You can also do that with the plug wire too. |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34021
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| Stock bakelite SP connectors have resistors in them. Check with a VOM for open or high resistances. |
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Notrab
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2017
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 5:32 am Post subject: Re: Distributor misfire |
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| It was the plug. I have played with VWs for 30 plus years and never ran across that one. Thanks for the accurate input. I learned a lot on this one. |
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