Ignition coil

Chat about your MKIII (86C) inc GT/G40 Polo
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Nobby
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Ignition coil

Post by Nobby »

Hi,

can anyone help. I was driving back from work tonight, got stuck in a queue and my engine just stopped :(
Fortunately I was only 20 yards from a garage and this guy said that there was no spark and therefor no power coming through the coil, but is there any other reason that there may be no power?
How much is a coil? The haynes manuel looks like it's easy to fit a new coil, but I am worried that if I do get a new coil it might be something else that I have missed.

Any Ideas anyone :shock:

TTFN

Nobby
tainmrk3polo
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Post by tainmrk3polo »

haha yep tis your coil mate, what car is it? like model? i paid a tenner + p&p off dan barnes (hardhitter) for mine, or they are like £40 from GSF i think. if there is no spark coming through it is the coil. its a ten minute job aslong as you get one thats the same model as yours (mine was a different brand and mounted slightly differently so i had to gaffa tape it to the gearbox as a earth point whilst i drove to get new bolts!)
amstrange1
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Post by amstrange1 »

Not necessarily the coil. Not sure what model you're talking about, but on the Mk3 Polos the hall sender failing can cause lack of a spark (it sends a signal to the ECU to tell it to create a spark), and also the ECU relay packing up can cause this too.

Do you hear the fuel pumps prime as normal when you turn the key in the ignition?
tainmrk3polo
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Post by tainmrk3polo »

good point andy, forgot about that
Nobby
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Post by Nobby »

Hi,

thanks for getting back.

It is a 1994 'L' Polo Boulevard Hatch.

What does the sound of the fuel pump priming sound like? How do I check the hall sender? And how do I check the ecu?

I feel stupid not knowing :oops:
Karl_CLCoupe
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Post by Karl_CLCoupe »

The fuel pump priming will be the noise you hear when all the lights are illuminated on the dash before the engine is actually started. Its kind of a *whirrrr* coming from behind you.

Karl.
Nobby
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Post by Nobby »

I always wondered what that noise was. When I first bought the car I spent 5-10 minutes trying ti figure out where it came from.

Yes, the fuel pump is priming. Does that indicate that the Hall sender and ecu are OK? Haynes is a bit vague regarding these things.
Karl_CLCoupe
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Post by Karl_CLCoupe »

I'm not too well up on this but...

I can assume the fuel pump priming rules the ECU relay out (though best get Andy to ok that first, as he knows wheeey more than me :lol: ). That would leave the hall effect sensor and the coil...

Karl.
tainmrk3polo
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Post by tainmrk3polo »

well minde did exactly the same, fuel pump primed, and wouldnt spark so changed the coil and job done!
Nobby
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Post by Nobby »

Hey, thanks for all the comments.

I kinda feel a little more confident about it just being the coil. I think I'm going to chance it an price up a coil from an independant VAG parts shop at the other end of town. Already checked on a VW parts web site and waiting for them to get back. The price difference will determine speed of recovery.

Will let you know how things get on

Nobby
hayesey
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Post by hayesey »

sounds like it is the coil to me. if the hall sender fails you'll usually still get a spark but the timing will be way off, which makes it pretty hard to diagnose.
Nobby
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Post by Nobby »

Well, not the ignition coil at all, but a very wet hall sender. Don't quite understand how the hall sensor got so full of water (the rain was really coming down in buckets half an hour before driving), but emptied it out, filled it with grease and now have no problems at all.

Thinking about a replacement though, but would I also have to get a new dizzy? :?

Nobby 8)
tainmrk3polo
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Post by tainmrk3polo »

noe:
PN Description Fitment Price() Basket
92377 HALL SENDER PO 1.05 8/85 > 27.50 Add
92377 HALL SENDER PO 1.3 55 BHP 8/85 > 27.50 Add
92378 HALL SENDER PO 1.3 75 BHP & G40 10/90 > 39.00 Add
92379 HALL SENDER PO 1.3 75 BHP 8/83 >9/90 27.50 Add

*edit*thats on GSF's site- www.gsfcarparts.com
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