Ignition Coil Testing

[Mark H.]

Re: Ignition Coil Testing

All,

Separate question on the coil. I've installed the Pertronix coil and electronic ignition hardware and have noticed that the coil runs VERY hot - I'm talking over 200 F hot. This is with the ballast resistor out of the circuit (which is the way a Pertronix rep told me to do it). With the ballast resitor in, the coil is much cooler but, understandably, the resistor is then melting thru the firewall (almost).

Pertronix says the coil is able, and should, run very hot ( near 300 F, they claim). Still sounds bad to me......?

Thanks, Mark

[Martin N.]

Re: Ignition Coil Testing

MARK-
I'd wonder about that coil heat too.

I was thinking about switching over to the PERTRONIX system a few years back but never did. With the amount of miles I drive my vette yearly (maybe 500) I really didn't see the need to switch. Do you like your system?

Marty

[Mark H.]

Re: Ignition Coil Testing

MARK-
I'd wonder about that coil heat too.

I was thinking about switching over to the PERTRONIX system a few years back but never did. With the amount of miles I drive my vette yearly (maybe 500) I really didn't see the need to switch. Do you like your system?

Marty

Get back to me in a couple of weeks. Car has not yet left the garage after rebuild. Hope to run it this weekend. I've heard nothing but good about Pertronix, but like you I run mine very little (2ooo/yr) and "since it wasn't broke, I probably shouldn't have fixed it !"

[Michael W.]

Re: Ignition Coil Testing

I've heard nothing but good about Pertronix,

Huh? This is known far and wide as the LEAST reliable unit on the market. It's not call the 'strand-o-matic' for nothing.

Search any one of the Corvette, Camaro, GM discussion boards and you'll hear lots of horror stories.

The usual advice is for people to carry their old points and condenser (with tools) and be prepared to swap them back in after the unit fails.

I've beaten the game by not installing the unit in the first place.

[Martin N.]

Re: Ignition Coil Testing

MIKE-
If I remember right, I was told by a couple of Z-28 guys that the PERTRONIX system was not the way to go either. That was about 8 years ago or maybe longer. I would've thought those people would've straightend out their product by now. Anyway, I never did make the switch and don't plan on it in the future. Nothing like good old GMPD to supply ya with the good stuff.

Marty