Ignition Amplifier

[goaferboy]

Just had a lengthy wait in a layby, followed by the RAC man following me home and the Scirocco behaving perfectly all the way. Pretty embarrassing really!

Long story short, he things my ignition amplifier is kack. It's still the original one that came with the car, so he's probably right. Anyone know where to get one from? I looked on GSFs website and couldn't see one. I also prefer to avoid eBay if possible.

[the edmundator]

Quite possibly this one:

https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/scirocc ... StartRow=1

Eurocarparts did them in the past, but usually sent the wrong one out. Try VW, too - at least they'll search for your part number (which should be printed on the amp if it's original VAG).

[marcus]

VW wanted £200 when I asked a year ago - I ended up paying only about £12 from some outfit in East Anglia, can't remember the name off the top of my head but will look it out when I can. Otherwise Volkspares were asking about £38.

[Little_bro]

Check the pin connectors first as they are prone to voltage loss due to corrosion

[marcus]

I second that though for different reasons - when I changed mine, I didn't clock that I'd splayed the 'sockets' in the connector (ie the plug that fits onto the amplifier module), when checking with a multimeter.

This is source of cheap modules (decent brand, had no issues with mine so far): http://www.worldcarparts.co.uk/Store/ta ... 191905351B

[goaferboy]

Cheers for the help guys.

I ended up just taking the old one off and pointing it at the guys at GSF. To my surprise (and theirs!), they actually had one in stock for about £40. It's on the car and about to go for a test run. Fingers crossed the problem is fixed.

Couldn't see any signs of corrosion anywhere when I replaced it, but I wasn't looking for it at the time, so that'll be my next port of call if the problem is still around. I'm guessing it's not due to corrosion though, as it was only happening once the engine had been up to temperature for a while and the problem disappeared if I left the engine to cool for a while. The RAC chap said that it was due to the unit itself getting hot and giving up, which apparently was very common back in the day.

On a side note, he also said to always carry a spare clutch cable. That way if it ever snaps (as we all know they're prone to do), I can call them out and they'll fit it by the roadside. Good advice I reckon, although he did say whoever had to do it wouldn't be too happy about it! Good way to get a free cable swap though.

[marcus]

I've had my Mk2 for 11 years and never had a clutch cable snap - it did pull through the bulkhead though, very common problem.

[goaferboy]

So the ignition amp didn't fix the problem. Bugger.

Anyone got any ideas what to try next? I was thinking of starting with the coil, then the distributor, since the coil looks ancient, but the distributor looks reasonably good.

The car completely loses power and only seems to happen when it's up to temperature, although it's normally after 20 minutes or so at full temp. It's a sudden cutout as well. It comes in and out, but it's either full power or nothing at all until it slows to a stop. After a few seconds parked up, it starts up again as if nothing had happened, but if I drive off it will normally cut out again shortly after.

Any ideas? Any recommended replacement parts?

[Nate]

On a side note, he also said to always carry a spare clutch cable. That way if it ever snaps (as we all know they're prone to do), I can call them out and they'll fit it by the roadside. Good advice I reckon, although he did say whoever had to do it wouldn't be too happy about it!

Why wouldn't the rack patrol be happy about you having a spare clutch cable with you? They're so simple to fit,normally doesn't even need tools. And if they fix your car at the roadside and don't need to tow you anywhere, it helps towards their single task completion bonus. How strange!


Anyway,back to your problem. Start again from the beginning, just with what happens when it stops.

Then what have you done apart from the amp by way of diagnosis

[goaferboy]

Anyway,back to your problem. Start again from the beginning, just with what happens when it stops.

Then what have you done apart from the amp by way of diagnosis

The car drives along fine, then it randomly cuts out with no warning signs, or slight loss of power beforehand. It does intermittently give full power again, but not enough to keep the car going. If I press the clutch down, the engine just cuts out completely. No rough idle or anything.

It only seems to do this once the car has been running at normal temperature (smack bang in the middle) for 20 minutes or so.

Then, once I've pulled it over to the side of the road, it just won't start at all. If I leave it for 20 seconds or so, it'll start up perfectly, as if nothing has happened. If I pull away, I'll get about 500 metres/30 seconds down the road and it'll cut out again.

The RAC chap didn't seem to think it was fuel starvation and he seemed pretty sure it was electrical since it was a complete loss of power, not a gradual loss. He was also very sure that it would be the amp, but that's obviously not the case.

Diagnosis is pretty difficult to be honest, since once it happens and I stop the car, the problem fixes itself pretty quick.

[Nate]

Yes, I'd agree that sudden death like you describe is almost certainly electrical, as fuel related it would usually cough and splutter then cut out.

When it stops and you say it won't restart. Is it turning over but not firing, or is it completely dead? Do other electrical things cut out too, such as the headlights and heater fan?

And yes, agree that intermittent faults are a **** to pin down!

Anything else you've tried?

[goaferboy]

Yes, I'd agree that sudden death like you describe is almost certainly electrical, as fuel related it would usually cough and splutter then cut out.

When it stops and you say it won't restart. Is it turning over but not firing, or is it completely dead? Do other electrical things cut out too, such as the headlights and heater fan?

And yes, agree that intermittent faults are a **** to pin down!

Anything else you've tried?

Nothing else cuts out, just the ignition. Lights etc all still work. I don't get any warning lights either, at least not whilst the momentum of the car is still turning the engine. Obviously the standard ones come on once the engine has actually stopped.

When trying to restart it, the engine turns over fine, it just doesn't fire up. I'm guessing that there's no spark.

To be honest, I haven't tried much else, since the RAC man said that he was almost certain it would be the amp, since it was apparently a very common fault back in the day.

[Nate]

Any common factor as to when it cuts out? Such as when you give it a boot full, when you hit a pot hole etc

[marcus]

Intermittent open-circuit in the coil, possibly temperature-related? Ignitions switch?

[Nate]

If the headlights and blower fan keep working, it's unlikely to be the ignition switch