boxsey911

I watched my local Porsche specialist check that coils were working by removing each lead from the dizzy cap, pulling the plug to expose the HT wire and watching it spark against the engine block while the engine was being cranked. This confirmed that both coils were working but it's not for the feint hearted! He then put on new rotor arms in the dizzys and all was well. I'm not suggesting you do all this but maybe changing the rotor arms might be something cheap and easy to try?

darth

Dan

"I have a hard time believing that I got a bad coil, especially since the old coil also would not fire the car..." Me too, not having first hand experience with Brazilian coils, just what people on this web site have reported, and it's not unheard of for manufacturers to skimp on manufacturing techniques on "knock offs".
"Do we know for sure that that the 964 should start on just one coil?" Personally I don't know for sure but I belive others on this board have reported starting their car on one coil (i.e. not sure which one). I do remember that my car does not run as well on just one coil .

"I'm really not into swapping any more coils I have to say that job was very tight and fiddly for a novice like me." I hear you on that! A quick and easy test would be just to swap the coil wires at the distributors - it may tell us something. Because it is difficult and fiddly to work on them it's still important to make sure all the connections are tight and to do a visual/audio check while the engine is running. Make sure while the engine is idling and the air filter box removed, so you have a clear view, look and listen in and around the coils/distributors. If you see or hear the snapping sound of sparks then that has to be fixed.

Bill

dan79brooklyn

Hi Guys,

Here is an update:

I swapped coils and I have the same problem. The front coil does not seem to be getting power as it will not fire either distributor.

The rear coil will start and run the car on either distributor.

My other problem that the car runs badly in the wet continues, but I think it is unrelated to my problem with the coils.

I did 'mist' the engine and did not notice any change in the idle of the car, but it very well could be a the spark plug wires...

darth

You can check if you have 12 volt power at the coils with a light bulb like the ones in your tail lights if you don't have a meter. Just connect one end of a wire to the red +12volt wire and and another wire to the black -ve wire. Then connect the light bulb to the other end of the 2 wires. Make sure the ignition is off while connecting and insulate with some tape - masking tape will do. Get someone to turn the ignition on while you hold the wires to the bulb's contacts. If the light doesn't illuminate try disconnecting the wire going to the -ve black wire and reconnect it to a metal part on the engine which is at ground. Turn the ignition on and if it illuminates the -ve black wire is suspect.

Hope this helps
Bill

dan79brooklyn

Hi Bill,

Yes, that is my next plan...Verify that the front coil is/isn't getting power. I will have to borrow a multi-meter or try your trick with a bulb.

I have heard of the igniters going bad...Or I have some messed up wiring. I might go ahead and swap the igniters on the coils and see if the problem occurs on the other coil.

To be continued...

dan79brooklyn

I think I may have found the culprit!

I swapped the igniters on the coil and now the secondary coil/distributor is not firing.
So I have a new igniter (ignition control unit) on order with Pelican.

Thanks for all your support. I will keep you posted when the part is installed.

dan79brooklyn

The mailman came this morning with the Ignition Switch Unit from Pelican.

I had decided to order a Huco brand instead of Bosch because it was $32 instead of $99.

I put the part on and...guess what...No start! F***!
The new unit does not fire either distributor. My one good Bosch Unit works on either coil/distributor.

So I'm not sure what to do at this point, I guess I will order the Bosch part, Unfortunately Pelican does not take returns on "Ignition related parts". So I'm out $30 bucks.

Anyone near NYC want to switch ignition units with me...Looks like the roads will be a mess for a while if we get the amount of snow they're predicting.

I'm so annoyed at this point!

darth

Bummer!

jaudette3

You may want to look into buying diagnostic software. Durametrics makes an excellent and affordable product that I used to solve my problems.

Good luck,
JohnA

dan79brooklyn

Finally got the ignition sorted out!

I purchased a Bosch Ignition Control Unit and tested it on both distributors and it is working now, back to firing on 12 plugs and two distributors! Feels good.

The Bosch Unit looked different than the original units, just like the HUCO brand that I initially purchased it had seven pins instead of six, but it works.

Thanks for all the help.

dfinnegan

Hey! That's great news. Glad you got it sorted.

Great driving weather, eh? :-)

afast16v

dan79brooklin, just a question... How much was the ignition control unit and where did you order it?
Thank you and glad your car is running back 100%

dan79brooklyn

I ordered the part from here: http://www.autohausaz.com

Free shipping

Makes > 1993 Porsche > 911 CARRERA (964) > Ignition Parts > Ignition Control Unit/Ignition Control Module
Part number
0227100124
Bosch
Ignition Control Unit/Ignition Control Module; 2 per engine
1 per car.
$77.79