Permatune Coilless Ignition Problem?

jtkkz · 02-12-2003, 09:25 AM

Hello
I have a Late 1973 911T CIS. It is equipped with a C911 Perma-Tune coilless ignition box.

Problem: Occasionally there wont be any spark coming out of the box.

What causes this problem?

The Porsche has 65,000 original miles. the previous owner had a permatune box installed about 4 years ago.

Thank You for all your responses and advises.

Jon

RoninLB · 02-12-2003, 09:32 AM

who did the install?

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Not exactly the same problem, but I had a permatune CDI box that would from time to time quit working altogether. Very intermittant, would work fine for months, then take forever to start. Drove me nuts trying to figure out what was causing it, as every time I bench tested the Permatune it passed.

Finally died in traffic. Luckily I was right down the street from my mechanic, who came and bailed me out with a loaner Bosch box to get me home.

I replaced it with a rebuilt Bosch unit, and it has worked fine since.

BTW, I am also in Fremont, and when it died, it was right next to NUMI, at Fremont blvd & Grimmer.

Tom

jtkkz · 02-12-2003, 10:10 AM

Hi tom
Yes very intermittant. When it first broke down, we waited for a few hours then it started and i was able to get home. The second time it would start on and off and ended up towing the car home. My friend found a wire that has a cut in it that touching the spark plug wires and was shutting off the motor whenever it hits the wires, so we fixed that problem thinking that was it. The other day it did it again where there was no spark then waited a while and it started right up.

Do you think it is a bad permatune box?
Are Permatune box prone to this type of failure?

Thank You for the responses
Jon

jtkkz · 02-12-2003, 10:15 AM

Hi Rob
I have all thereceipts from when the car was brand new in 1973 from all the previous owners, but cannot seem to find the receipt on who installed the permatube box.

RoninLB · 02-12-2003, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jtkkz
Hi Rob
I have all thereceipts from when the car was brand new in 1973 from all the previous owners, but cannot seem to find the receipt on who installed the permatube box.

OK.. if mine I would eyeball all wiring.. maybe clean and reattach positive and negative.. including the 14 pin eng comp plug/starter feed..maybe check for voltage dropat the starter.. check the tranny to chassis ground.. check for a permatune to chassis ground/if not install one.. then send it to Permatune for a free test and possibility free repair.. mention that you already asked questions on a 911 site to intimidate them for some free stuff.. Permatune doesn't like bad PR...

targa911S · 02-12-2003, 10:47 AM

It's the Permajunk. I had the same problem with one I puchased. Permatrash would check it and tell me there was nothing wrong. No sooner would I reinstall it and the permafail would die again. Crazy as it sounds it used to kick on my auto garage door opener too making the door go up and down!. I used to mount a friend of mines Bosch box as a piggy back and when the Permacrash would die I would just switch and go on my way.GET RID OF IT! A used Bosch fixed mine and probably will fix yours too!
P.S. Permatune could care if it don't work much less bad press! If you think you will get anything but "sorry" from them you're mistaken.

RoninLB · 02-12-2003, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
It's the Permajunk.

I didn't want to spend the guys $$$ if there's a chance for no $$$ spent