2004 Beck bad coil????

Hi guys,

Noticed this last year occasionally...My 04 Beck Speedster would just shut off at a stop light...Never did it while at speed. It idles perfectly at 800-900 rpm, carbs are nicely setup (1600cc motor) The car basically runs like a top. But it sometimes simply shuts off at a stop....Fires right back up everytime. It DOESN'T sputter when this happens..It's like someone shutting off the ignition switch.

Cap and rotor look new, This was a factory built car so everything is very nicely done.

I'm just was wondering if an iginition coil on it's way out could cause this??? Figured I'd ask the pro's.

Thanks

I had a coil failure last fall, but I would get sputtering beforehand. Mine usually occurred when under load. The difference might be because I am running a Pertronix Flamethrower II ignition system.

Sounds electrical...points, condenser, coil have all failed occasionally from brand new (Bosch) on engines I've built, I'd just pop a new one on and problem solved. Of course we had shelves filled with them. :-)

I have seen ignition switch do this .... Wasn't mine and it finally died two years later..... My .02...

i think it sounds like the ignition switch too.

double check your grounds while you are in there.

While coils are pretty robust, they do fail. You can test yours with a volt/ohm meter by checking resistance. 3-4.5 ohms is normal. Your coil maker and model will have correct ohms listed somewhere on the net. They're not costly, so installing a new one is a good start. A bad coil will usually show symptoms of poor running, since it gradually or suddenly quits producing the high voltage (upwards of 40,000V)needed by the plugs to fire properly. Many times, replacing a coil is a defualt diagnosis by a shop, since it's economical, quick, and easy to perform. If the symptom goes away, problem solved. If not, put the old one back on and keep looking.

As you know, occassional electrical gremlins are the bane of car owners. It's tough to have a mechanic diagnose a problem that isn't present when you bring the car in. Like others have suggested, I would suspect an electrical fault somewhere in the ignition system. I would check all wires/fittings from the battery on, including grounds. Ignition switches are an inexpensive fix also.

Not a fool-proof test, BUT often times when these ignition switches go bad they short to the case of the switch. Using a 12v test light, see if you have 12v on the outside case of the switch or bezel. If so, replace it. Again, lack of 12v doesn't mean it is not bad, but presence of 12v means it is bad. Coil is a good possibility too, first double check all the push on connections at the coil and make sure none are loose.

Thanks for all the replies....

I replaced the coil ($26...you gotta love these VW based cars!!!)

FIXED!!!

No more stumbling, no more shutting off, runs like a champ!

Swweeettt! I love it when that happens.... Happy wrenching!!

One quick question....

This is a 2004 Beck with a 1600 twin carb motor. The car was a turnkey built by Special Editions. My question is this...

I assume these cars have external resistors on the coils.

I was wondering if there is any advantage to going with the Bosch Blue Coil. I picked up an off the shelf generic coil from a local parts store and wasn't sure if this would be OK for the long haul. The car has electronic ignition WITHOUT points or condensor. From what I've read about the Bosch Coils they make them is a few different models with different resistance levels. Which one do I need for this car????

Thanks

Mine started out with a Bosch Blue coil, before I upgraded to the Pertronix setup. As far as I can tell there is no external resistor.

Most. if not all, VW coils are non resistor..... That is, those normaly used on type 1 motors....
The cheap electronic ignition modules instruct the user to install a resistor of 1.5 ohms or so, to prevent burning out the module.... My .02 again...

Look for a small box attached to the fan shroud and wired to the coil. If it is present, then you need a non resistor coil. If it is not there then you need one with an internal resistor.

Or you can lose the risistor box and use a 3ohm coil from PAW .

Thats my standard upgrade on all aircooled engines with Protronics or Compufire.

Plugs in as stock no extra parts

Lane, your coil had a 3 Ohm internal resistor. The genuine epoxy filled Bosch blue coils do.
FD: if your motor is an OE VW Mexico 1600 the ignition system is specific to factory VW Mexico motors (if I understood Pat @ CB correctly) and uses a higher discharge coil and special external resistor (the aforementioned box). Any time I have had to replace these coils Pat has had to send me the special black VW Mexico coil or a non-standard Bosch non resistor coil. Just FYI. IF it is not a OE VW Mexico 1600 then it would most likely have an 009 and 3 Ohm resistor coil.

Carey:

Ever run a coil normally used on an inductive ignition on a disti with points?

Just wondering if it is OK to mix and match.

I have not.