The problem only shows up in AC Vanagon. Why maybe because
of the "grey" label on the coil. I am not really sure but the proof
is in the pouding!

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Fri, 8 Jan 1999, KBatzler wrote:

> I've been running platinum plugs on ALL of my cars for years...every thing
> from Vanagons, Jettas, Passats without a single problem.
> Karl Batzler
> 84 Vanagon
> 87 Audi 5000 S (now using platinum plugs)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: YauMan Chan <YAUMAN@CCHEM.BERKELEY.EDU>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Friday, January 08, 1999 8:17 PM
> Subject: Coils and Platinum Plugs!
>
>
> >>> EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET> 01/08 10:50 AM >>>
>    My bet is that you have platimun plug in the engine. They
> killed coil after coil in My 1980 Van until I put 2 and 2 together.
> >>
>
> Oh No.. tell me it ain't so!
>
> I have been using platimum plugs ever since they first appeared on the
> market 20 years ago and cost $24.95 each and have never experiened this
> phenomenum!  There must be some co-incidence.  All the platium plug gets you
> is longer life and better conduction of electric current even when it is
> coated with oil and carbon.  How can that destroy a coil?  You can dead
> short the High Tension output side of the coil and it should survive.  The
> high tension side while in the 40 Kilovolt range has only micro-amps of
> currrent..regardless of the type of plug you put in.  When I was teaching
> physics, I use to buy the cheapest coils I can get from Kmart to let the
> students experiment with .. neat stuff you can do and they are all bullet
> proof.. short of actually dropping them and cracking the insulation, you
> cannot kill them by loading it badly.
>
> It must be a co-incidence.. something changed after you change to platimum
> plugs.. Anybody else on this list seen this problem with platinum plugs?
>
> Yau-Man Chan
> 87 GL
>