82 SC ignition problems

[mike_dunn]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, tho I have been reading this forum religiously for a couple months now trying to learn as much as I can (I know nothing about mechanics) about my new car and first Porsche. Some pictures:





Well, to the problem, I've had the car for 4 months now (daily driver) with no problems - other than some cold start issues - and have been loving it. But, last week I noticed the car had significantly less power and heard a ticking sound from the engine. I viewed the engine compartment at night with the lights off and saw sparks shooting from the original Beru wires. I replaced them with Clewetts but now there are sparks shooting from the two screws at the bottom of the coil on the engine shroud and sparks between the 5 & 6 wires. It's misfiring badly, bucks wildly at low RPMs, and feels like I'm driving an 18-wheeler thru molasses.

So what is the proper diagnosis? Does the original coil need replacement or does the problem lie elsewhere? If need be, I could post a short movie of the sparking later tonight when it gets dark.

Mike

[Superman]

Interesting. Those lightning bolts would have plenty to do with your performance problem, but I'm at a loss as to the cause.
Spark plug wires and connectors should not be leaking this voltage. Of course, if it were 100,000 volts then maybe, but I don't see how your system could be making that voltage.

[Early_S_Man]

Mike,

The sparks at the coil mounting bolts are indicative of a loss of ground at the coil, not a bad coil per se. Your fan housing may have cracked ... precipitating the sudden onset of ignition problems causing the power loss!

My suggestion is to run a stranded 10 ga ground strap from the coil bracket to one of the case M8 studs, and another stranded 10 ga ground strap to one of the M6 mounting bolts of the CDI box.

ps,

Other 6-pin CDI documentation and troubleshooting info can be found here:

6-pin SC/Turbo CDI unit repair documentation