Car got wet and won't start, can't locate fault vw polo 1996

[cardboard]

Hi,

the car is a vw polo 1996, was driven through an unexpected puddle and stopped. It started working again but died completely a day later.

The problem is with the ignition system, a spark is jumping from the coil to the nearest point it can find. HT lead is fine and a new distributor cap and rotor have been fitted. Also plugs and leads are reasonably new and look in good condition. Not sparking on the plugs.

Also tried drying obvious electrical points and spraying with wd40....

Any advice would be welcome and appreciated!!

Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

The coil on these is a known failure item anyway....on the nearside wing I think? It had a tendency to run a bit hot.
If you can see a spark when you crank the engine over, it won't be sparking at the plugs.....new coil from Eurocarparts needed!
John

 

[cardboard]

Thanks John,

with just an HT lead attached a spark will jump from the end of the lead rather than a spark on the coil. Is it likely the fault is elsewhere or is the coil simply not working well enough to make it to the plugs?

Tom

 

[Burnerman]

It depends where the coil is sparking from, Tom - often these things would spark from the underneath or the back or somewhere, showing that the insulation had broken down.
The fact that the coil sparks from its disconnected lead just shows that the energy produced is taking the easiest route to earth.
So long as you have a genuine cap and rotor arm (compare like for like with the old ones - especially the height of the rotor) its not much else it can be, really.
Assuming the carbon brush hasn't gone AWOL from the new cap, naturally!
John

 

[cardboard]

Cool,

many thanks John! I'll order a new coil and update.