Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

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urtheiz
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Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by urtheiz » Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:56 am

I need to find out what wires get plugged into which side of the coil. I'm putting the engine back into the bus ('71) and tried to start it, but no juice to the plugs. Everything else gets power (lights, radio, starter turns and the coil "shows" juice).
I took notes on what wires I pulled from what side, but something's messed up and it's not working. Any help or suggestions?
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'71 camper-daily ride

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RSorak 71Westy
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by RSorak 71Westy » Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:32 am

Look at the top of the coil closely by the 2 small terminals there will be plus and minus signs. The plus sign is where the hot wires go. Go turn on the ignition switch, with a volt meter find the wire with power, it goes to the plus side of the coil. The negative side of the coil goes to the distributor.
Take care,
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.

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sped372
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by sped372 » Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:36 am

Sometimes there's no '+' and '-' markings. In that case '15' means positive and '1' means negative. The other powered bits, like the carb cutoff and choke draw power from the positive side of the coil also.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

urtheiz
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by urtheiz » Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:45 am

Thanks for the suggestions!! I also have a Pertronix in the distributor with 2 wires coming from it, a black and a red one. The black goes to negative and I'm guessing red to positive. I have some other clip-on's that were hooked up to the coil. I don't have a meter, only a "trouble light".
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sped372
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by sped372 » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:03 am

I wouldn't guess with the hookups. I've heard those electronic point modules are easy to fry if you get it wrong. Do a bit of research first!

Also, you should really pick up a meter, even a cheap $10 bargain-bin one is much more valuable than just a test bulb. You'll use it, and then you'll eventually want a nicer one. It's money well spent.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

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Randy in Maine
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by Randy in Maine » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:52 am

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79 VW Bus

vdubyah73
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by vdubyah73 » Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:01 pm

If you have already hooked up the distributor module backwards you need a new one. It fried as soon as you turned the key on. When i disconnect the wires from the coil I use a Sharpie to mark the coil and bundle each set of wires in blue painters tape then mark them. You don't even have to know which is which as far as + and - go just mark one side A and the other B.

I'm gonna guess that you didn't know that on an old VW the black wire is + and a brown wire is ground. Did you instinctively think black was - and hook it up backwards? If you had points it probably would have started but not run very well.
1/20/2013 end of an error
never owned a gun. have fired a few.

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Amskeptic
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by Amskeptic » Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:36 am

[quote="Randy in Maine"][/quote]

Hey Randy . . . he said, "Pertronics". We don't want him to be looking for green wires that don't exist.
Colin :alien:

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BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

urtheiz
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by urtheiz » Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:59 am

Thanks for all your help!!! I got it running, but it had other problems. The fan was rubbing the housing so I had to pull the engine again, (hittin' my head against the wall) though the 2nd time I had help. I used to have quite a number of VW's when I was younger (40-20 yrs ago). Then a really cool Type II found me (really, it's a good story) a few years back, so this was the first time I've pulled an engine in 20+ years. Even with the mistakes, I had a good time!!!
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Amskeptic
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:14 pm

urtheiz wrote:Thanks for all your help!!! I got it running, but it had other problems. The fan was rubbing the housing so I had to pull the engine again, (hittin' my head against the wall) though the 2nd time I had help. I used to have quite a number of VW's when I was younger (40-20 yrs ago). Then a really cool Type II found me (really, it's a good story) a few years back, so this was the first time I've pulled an engine in 20+ years. Even with the mistakes, I had a good time!!!
These cars are a good time .... and when you get back in the swing of things, you can next time loosen the generator strap (13mm bolt/nut), and just move the generator back or forth in its saddle until all is quiet.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

camit34
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Re: Coil Wiring Hook-Up's

Post by camit34 » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:01 pm

Yes, this was a while ago but the search function worked it's foo and this helped me out!

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