96 2.8L Jetta DOHC won't start when its damp out

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

radi8 - 22 Sep 2008 22:22 GMT

My car is a 1996 VW Jetta V6 2.8L DOHC with the Distributorles
Ignition System (DIS). I noticed that in the morning when it is wet...
after a soaking rain, heavy dew, or extremely humid day, the DIS was
sparking beween the DIS and each (or some of the) plug wire
connector. I am surmizing that the plug wires are going bad, but am
still confused because the DIS is an epoxy filled module... how it it
shorting and to what???

I was going to try and replace the wireset, but dang... impossible
with the infamous "tool, special". Any help is appreciated in
this...

Signature

Posted at author's request, using http://www.AutoBoardz.com interface.
Articles individually moderated. Abuse/Problem? Report at http://www.AutoBoardz.com/contact.html
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/96-8L-Jetta-DOHC-won-start-damp-ftopict249052.html

Reply to this Message

Craig - 23 Sep 2008 00:58 GMT

Those coils are notorious for going bad. I would bet money that its the coil
rather than the wires. I always replace both though.

The coils actually crack & allow water to enter which gives a path to
ground.

Craig

> My car is a 1996 VW Jetta V6 2.8L DOHC with the Distributorles
> Ignition System (DIS). I noticed that in the morning when it is wet...
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> with the infamous "tool, special". Any help is appreciated in
> this...

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 23 Sep 2008 02:58 GMT

I usually reseal them esp since the 2001 coil packs cost over $400. There
are some websites devoted to this procedure!
http://chris.quietlife.net/passat/coilpack.html

> Those coils are notorious for going bad. I would bet money that its the
> coil rather than the wires. I always replace both though.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>> with the infamous "tool, special". Any help is appreciated in
>> this...

Reply to this Message

Mark - 23 Sep 2008 13:11 GMT

Also from Chris,

http://web.newsguy.com/vrooomm/VW/coilpack.htm

Mark

> I usually reseal them esp since the 2001 coil packs cost over $400. There
> are some websites devoted to this procedure!
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> >> with the infamous "tool, special". Any help is appreciated in
> >> this...

Reply to this Message