Bruce,
  Since your resistance measurements show a fault on the secondary (high
voltage) side of the coil, this would indicate a problem in the high
voltage wires.  A few posts back Dennis suggested that bad plug wires could
harm a coil.  Have these been tested and/or replaced?  How do the plugs
look?

Larry A.

On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 7:56 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:

> To be honest - I disagree with the moving and jostling of parts having the
> effect of repairing the coil - as opposed to installing a new coil which in
> the short term and temporarily (?) has solved the problem.  The resistance
> readings yesterday confirm the coil does not work. How it got to that state
> is the question.  Wiring, grounds, current, hall senders, etc could all be
> part of the equation as well as crappy workmanship...and certainly the
> current remedy (a new coil) may not be the long term answer as there quite
> possibly is a wiring conspiracy going on somewhere in my van - which I need
> to sort out and as well as thankful for the responses I have received so
> far!
>
> By reinstalling the old coil and finding that the engine would not start
> tells me that the wiring either had to be jostled back into a state of ill
> repair and then be re-jostled back into a state of repair when the new coil
> was again hooked up - basically 5 minutes later.
>
> Coil readings between terminal 1 & 15 = 0.6 ohms which is normal.  Readings
> between terminal 4 and 15 read infinity (should be 2.4 to 3.5 k-ohm).
>
> Having a 29 year old van and a 104 year old house - I'm planning to run
> knob and tube to my coil :-)
>
> BT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 5:30 AM, James <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *Yesterday after installing the new coil the van> fired up right away...a
> > bad ground or a wiring issue would not permit that> to happen.*That's a
> > dangerous assumption on an old vehicle - if the problem is a break or
> > weakness inside a connector, crimp, or the wiring itself (often caused by
> > heat, and all possible in old vehicles), then the mere act of
> uninstalling
> > and re-installing the coil could well jostle the parts back into
> alignment
> > so the engine will start and run until the heat or vibration causes the
> > ground or wiring problem to re-occur.
> >
> > Sometimes, new wiring and connections are the only answer.  I have a 50
> > year old house and a 24 year old Westfalia;  in both cases, the
> replacement
> > of failing wiring and connectors has begun.
> >
> > James
> > Ottawa, ON
> >
> > > Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 17:50:54 -0700
> > > From: beeceetee@GMAIL.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Coil-itis
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > >
> > > Yeah Jack that is what makes me wonder - (old coil - no problems)...or
> > > whether the new coils are not up to par. Good advice on the ground
> wires
> > > which I have done some work with over the years...but i don't think bad
> > > grounds would kill a coil.
> >
> > *Yesterday after installing the new coil the van> fired up right away...a
> > bad ground or a wiring issue would not permit that> to happen.*
> > >
> > > I need to have an autopsy completed on the coil - not sure whether I
> > could
> > > trust Bosch to do that and provide honest feedback.
> > >
> > > BT
> > >
> > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2015 at 5:29 PM, Jack Reynaert <jack007@comcast.net>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Bruce,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > One final thing… make sure you have a real solid ground too. (engine
> to
> > > > chasse, battery to box/chasse, starter etc.) We grinded all the
> contact
> > > > points (used Dielectric Grease), and replaced ground straps, with top
> > > > quality everywhere. (can’t be too careful).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I just helped change out the motor on our friends 90 Westy, with a Go
> > > > Westy 2.2. When we went to fire it the first time last week, no
> spark!
> > > > One of the coil wires connecting to the spade was bad.
> > > >
> > > > That’s what made me think of this possibility too.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > My 84 Westy has a 2.1l from a 91 Syncro in it, and the original coil
> > from
> > > > that motor as well. The motor only has 50K original miles on it, so I
> > > > think I’ll try to make sure I avoid the Brazilian factory workers if
> > at all
> > > > possible J.
> > > >
> > > > I was thinking of doing some PM and replacing my coil, simply due to
> > age…
> > > > but now I’m not going to mess with a good thing.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Jack
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *From:* Bruce Todd [mailto:beeceetee@gmail.com]
> > > > *Sent:* Sunday, August 16, 2015 8:22 PM
> > > > *To:* Jack Reynaert
> > > > *Subject:* Re: Coil-itis
> >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi Jack,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Plug wires are tight and quite new. Spade connectors are connected
> > > > properly and are tight / clean surfaces on spades and wire
> > connections. I
> > > > am not sure on the condition of the wires though and whether they are
> > > > shorting - I can check those. My thoughts are this is unlikely given
> I
> > > > had my mechanic inspect the electrical system and coil specifically
> > before
> > > > the trip - but I won't rule out the possibility.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yes - what ever is happening is pooching the coil. Or the Brazilian
> > > > factory workers are working to rule.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > BT
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2015 at 4:06 PM, Jack Reynaert <jack007@comcast.net>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Bruce,
> > > >
> > > > Have you checked your wires connecting to the coil, to make sure that
> > > > there are no nicks, or shorts or corrosion internally in the wires?
> > > > There are two spade connectors on the coil, both need to be connected
> > for
> > > > it to start, then of course your plug wires.
> > > > Sounds like more like another issue causing your "Coil-it is", than
> > > > defective coils.
> > > >
> > > > If all else fails, try a high fiber diet... and try to reduce your
> > stress
> > > > :)
> > > >
> > > > Good luck!
> > > >
> > > > Jack
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf
> > > > Of Bruce Todd
> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 6:47 PM
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > Subject: Coil-itis
> > > >
> > > > You may or may not read my travel post from yesterday - great trip
> down
> > > > the Olympic Peninsula and halfway down Oregon coast. At the heart of
> > the
> > > > matter was that my coil packed it in about 3 km from home. A mixed
> > > > blessing of sorts given the rush hour driving we completed in
> Portland
> > on
> > > > the I-5, the number of large bridges we crossed, and some of the
> remote
> > > > highways we traversed.
> > > >
> > > > I have now replaced 4 coils since July 10 of 2012 = here are the
> makes
> > of
> > > > coils, dates of purchase & install and odometer reading in (kms).
> > > >
> > > > July 10, 2012- Beck Arnley Coil (267,951) replaced the original (?)
> > black
> > > > Bosch coil - I bought the van in the Summer of 2006 (228,394). as a
> > > > preventative measure.
> > > >
> > > > Sept 28, 2012 - New Bosch coil (270,965) replaced Beck Arnley
> (failed)
> > > >
> > > > Feb 8, 2014 - Replaced new Bosch Coil with spare (original coil)
> > (279,376)
> > > > (new Bosch coil failed)
> > > >
> > > > October 22, 2014 - Replaced spare coil with 2nd New Bosch coil
> > (283,980)
> > > > (Mechanic accidentally kept spare coil which I have not yet got back)
> > > >
> > > > August 15, 2015 - Replaced 2nd Bosch coil with 3rd Bosch coil
> > (289,578).
> > > >
> > > > I just sent off an email to Bosch Canada given that this could be
> some
> > > > poor workmanship or perhaps some bad luck on my part. What
> > mechanically or
> > > > more specifically electronically do people think could be possibly
> > > > contributing to this issue.
> > > >
> > > > One last thing - I did post last October on the heat I noticed from
> the
> > > > 2nd Bosch coil - ? Subject line: Coil Boil
> > > >
> > > > Thanks all.
> > > >
> > > > Bruce Todd
> > > >
> > > > 86 Westy Syncro
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
>