1984 Vanagon No spark (fuel ok) FIXED!!!!

[51astro456]

Just wanted to share a recent experience I had with a 1984 Vanagon with digifant fuel injection. Sudden loss of power, then would not start. Went through all of the checks and came up with it turned over ok, just no spark. Coil tested ok, just no spark.

Then looked at the Hall effect sensor, but it tested ok.

I finally came upon a page in the Bently manual that goes through testing cable that plugs into the ECU, labeled "Electrical testing- Ignition and Injection System". In step 2 it tests the wire to ignition coil terminal 1. I came up with only 1.7V vice battery voltage. Took a look at the coil and it had an extra wire that went to an aftermarket tachometer. Took that wire off and it started up! So the tachometer must have shorted out somewhere....

[DanHoug]

congrats on using logic (and the manual!!!) to solve your problem.

be aware that tach signal wire makes a good kill switch and someone MAY have hidden a kill switch that got bumped off.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[51astro456]

Oh, good point about the kill switch...l'll check for that..thanks!

[Wildthings]

A 1984 should have Digijet and not Digifant

[51astro456]

Yes I’m realizing that a previous owner switched over to a Digifant at some point.

[jlrftype7]

Porsche had some 911s cut out /die out with Tachometers that shorted the ignition system. I remember learning about that in the late 80s when I first started in this business.
It's not one of the first things that comes to mind when diagnosing an ignition system..

Good catch.
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[DanHoug]

[51astro456]

My understanding is that the digifant includes an ignition control module inside of it. I did find an idle control module in front of the right taillight. I'll get some engine bay pictures later today.