914-6 cranks, no start

[Vintage914Racer]

I'm just getting my 914-6 back together after a couple years off of the road. The car cranks but will not start. I confirmed that it is getting gas. There is no spark.

I confirmed power to the engine control unit. It has a permatune and I also have a bosch on the shelf. Regardless of which is plugged in I don't get spark.

When I hook my voltmeter up to the coil I get nothing. Should I see power there when the key is on?

[John Rogers]

If I remember correctly with my 914-6 vintage race car, there was +12 volts to the coil when key was on. BUT we had removed and replaced the replay board with a pair of aircraft weather proof multi pin connectors and with the points replacement setup I had (forget which) we never had the key on for very long. I would suggest tracing the wires back from the coil and look at each connection and the wires to see if one has corroded or broken or been chewed through. Since the fuel pump is working as you said, the ignition switch is probably okay?

I guess the moral of this story is not to let the car sit for very long periods of time.........

[sixbanger]

You can also by bypass the CD box and put 12V directly to the coil and see if it starts.

[Vintage914Racer]

I confirmed that there is nothing coming from the coil. I swapped coils and still have no spark. At this point I'm guessing it's the control module. I'm going to try to find someone with one locally that I can swap in to see if it fixes the problem. I don't hant to drips hundreds on a new one if I put it in and it still doesn't work.

[larrym]

test your coil independently for spark production - it is very simple - if it makes a spark then it ain't the problem https://www.google.com/search?q=coili+test+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=coil+test

what are you triggering it with in the dizzzy ? - points, pertronix, shutter-type ???? - first thing i'd check in this situation is the trigger device

start here Perma Tune Technical Support for Porsche 911

unlike some other aftermarket CDI, Perma-Tune ignitions make no audible sounds when the ignition switch is on

Bosch CDI troubleshooting pretty much the same, just a weaker spark production unit
see this - History of Bosch CDI ... toubleshooting info, parts list changes, and schematics ...

search this: - lots of relevant threads here https://www.google.com/search?q=911+permatune&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[Vintage914Racer]

Larrym, thanks for the info.

I checked the coil resistance and it checked out fine.

I tried a working bosch ignition unit from another car and it had no impact. No spark from the coil or plugs.

At this point since time is not something I have a lot of I'm probably going to have to drop it with a shop.

[skier8]

What distributor is in the car Bosch or the stock Marelli? Check the points I bet the contacts are corroded. Clean the contacts,gap and I bet it will spark. Please reply with result.
PS, easiest to pull the dizzy to clean and set, just remember where the rotor was pointing.

[Vintage914Racer]

I'm running a bosch dizzy, fortunately. I'll take a stab at cleaning the points. Worst case it still doesn't start and I have an appointment with the local specialist in early July.