I can't start my 1973 vw bus. there's no spark. Any thoughts?

Question

The points open & close properly and I changed the ignition coil, all to no avail. Any thoughts on what could be the problem? Please help!!!

Answer 1

OK. First, turn on your ignition & make sure you have 12 volts at the ignition switch side of the coil. If you've got juice there, your circuit's ok. Is your coil wired the right way around? Next, make sure your points aren't burnt, get them up on the lobe of the cam & set them (.016 if I recall...) Make sure the lead from the coil is in good shape & not shorted. Put in a new condenser.
Kick it over. Got spark now? No? Check your cap & rotor. Contacts ok? Are they the right cap & rotor for your distributor? Check your Plug/coil wires. In good shape? Plugged all the way into the cap?

Answer 2

Do this. With the ignition switch on(lights up the dash) go to the distributor and with the cap off and the rotor off take a popsicle stick(wood) and open and close the points. If there is no spark when the points open, the condenser is either not connected(the black wire is grounding out or fried. Replace. No repair. So get entire point tune up kit which should include points, condenser, rotor and do it. Should fix the electrical problem.

Answer 3

Check to make sure you have power to the hot side of the coil with a test light. Sometimes the wiring gets damaged. If no power there, run a jumper wire to the + side of the coil and try starting the engine. Also make sure the points fully close on the low side of the distributor cam. If not, adjust them so they do, but make sure they open on the high side of the dist. cam. Another possible cause may be the main coil wire. I used to have Vdubs and found the book" VW's for the compleat idiot" to be very helpful.

Answer 4

1 is your point gap .016 set properly?

2 is the ignition hot wire to the coil in good shape?

3 how about the ignition coil wire?(that's the wire that goes from the coil to the points)

4 how about the lead wire from the coil into the distributor? (that's the spark wire from the top of the coil to the top of the distributor.)

5 what shape are your spark plug wires in?

try a new set of plug wires, rotor and distributor cap also.

Answer 5

this has an inline fuse before the coil [back up lamps pick up their power off of the pos. side of coil a short to ground in this system blows the fuse and shutsoff power to coil. note the electro-jet on the carb also picks it's power at the same place and also is a candidate for a short to ground. if these test good you could have an ign switch that has failed [ it is 34 yrs. old] good luck

Answer 6

Are they new points? If they are you may need to clean the contacts. With the points closed open them slightly with something and insert a piece of clean paper in between the contacts,let the contacts close on the paper and pull it out. Repeat until paper comes out clean and try starting.

Answer 7

If theres no spark at the points with key cut on, replace condser an points.

Virago Man

Answer 8

You know, there's no spark in my marriage either. Try flowers, candy, backrubs, compliments, listen, listen, listen, be patient, considerate, thoughtful. It didn't work for me, but......ya never know

Answer 9

you might need a new car dude that things old cars dont last in most states they use salt on the roads

Answer 10

Try going to autotrader.com; you can get a new or used car there.