No spark. CDI box...coil recommendation?
 

So my car won't start (turn over), had it looked at, and there is no spark from one of the outputs of the CDI unit. Purchasing a new unit, link here, and thinking of replacing the coil as well as it may be contributing and I'd rather cover some of my bases so I don't fry a new CDI box. Any recommendations for a new coil?


https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/911CDI6P.htm?pn=911-CDI-6P

You can send your CDI box off for repair for @$350ish..

Summer is wasting, I'd rather not waste that kind of time, and just get the replacement. Any coil recommendations for an '89 930.

I got a P*a*r*tsclassic coil and it is still performing well

^^^ this. It was $400 +core charge. Looks stock and is infinitely more reliable than a rebuilt unit.

My CDI and coil both were giving up the ghost, I went with the PartsK... for each and they have been rock solid. Would definitely recommend them.

Link to one of these? Thank you in advance!

Plus 1 on the P*a*r*tsclassic coil, I bought one for my 1970, had Bob Ashlock do my CDI, quick turnaround.

https://ashlocktech.com/ashlocktech-cdi

Are you sure it's not the green wire problem?

What would the green wire problem be?

The standard Bosch CDI box is readily rebuildable. And testing is pretty straight forward with a couple of self-made jumper wires.

the green wire is a COAX cable with a thin inner signal wire, insulation and wrapped with a wire mesh for shielding and then the outer green insulation. With age the insulation cracks and the shielding and inner signal wire short preventing the trigger signal to get to the box.

Do a visual inspection for cracked portions along the wire

Some rebuilders do the repair for $250. Do a Google search.

I have been through this on my SC with another product which is holding up well. No big complaints but....

If I had to do again , I would go P-klassik route as mentioned above. They rebuilt my distributor and did an excellent job and really seem to know their ignition stuff. Plus their product looks dead on stock and is stock size which is nice detail. My few experiences with them have been great. Easy web ordering and surprisingly fast shipment. You could probably order today and have next week if lucky.

Of course - at the prices these things go for , make sure it is in fact your CDI...

Scott

Why use another source, e.g. whose 6-pin CDI is not an actual Bosch, when you have this choice;

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/ATCDIREPAIR.htm?pn=AT-CDIREPAIR

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660242761.jpg

Picked up the CDI and coil from Partsklassic, coming tomorrow!

Unfortunately, those are non-Bosch CDIs (typically Perma-Tune) and are not reliable, when compared to those rebuilt-exhange units sold by Pelican Parts.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660252939.jpg

Get your Bosch CDI rebuilt and keep as a spare in your car!

The green wire goes from the distributor to a connector on its route to the CDI. It can short circuit so that the CDI doesn't get a signal from the distributor.

Roy

...No mention of the Classic Retrofit CDI+?

https://www.classicretrofit.com/en-us/collections/cdi-ignition

Why spend $1,000, when a reliable rebuild with a 5 yr warranty is less than 1/3 the price?

Bigger spark, programmable timing, no down time, and no need to guess if the person you find to rebuild is talented.

Where are the data? It's been discussed many times that its spark has less energy than the Bosch CDI! Besides, its second spark is too short.


The timing is proper with the Bosch. You want to have to run aviation octane fuel?


There are many posts about the very good quality of rebuilt Bosch units. Some rebuilders provide a 5 year warranty.
What's the warranty on your recommendation?

Bob Ashlock either direct or through PP is the right answer for CDI repairs. Very helpful with tech advice over email or on this forum, and does great work. I actually sent my working original unit into him to be updated and future proof myself from at least one known failure point on road trips.

Please describe what that "known failure point" is, which occurs "on road trips".

Here is what some "rebuilt" CDIs look like internally;

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1661175931.jpg

Not sure if you’re trolling or you’re serious but I’ll go with serious. These boxes are all aging-out, mainly the Discharge Capacitor that is buried deep in the unit under the pc-board. We are 30-40 years out on these boxes and they are failing regularly due to age, heat and use. Often on a road trip where the otherwise lightly used car is exposed to hours of running about 14” from a turbocharger and heat builds to a degree not seen otherwise. Failures usually start out as intermittent... car was running fine, shut it off and now it won’t re-start. Hours later it runs fine again. Or it won’t ever start.
If you’re still running your 40 year old one, I would seriously advise you to get it reworked in the spirit of preventative maintenance. Or ignore it and hope it doesn’t fail on you at an inopportune time.

I've been involved with Porsche CDI units for over 30 years and that's not correct in most cases.


Yes, turbos can be more problematic, i.e. early 911 three pin CDIs rarely fail.

Hopefully, your "rebuilt" is not like this one, where the "rebuilder" decides to modify the Bosch design, because of his "CDI design knowledge".

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1661303545.jpg

Hopefully, your warranty is at least 5 years, right?