Does the fact that i have no spark coming off the coil in my golf gti necessarily mean that the coil is bad? - Yahoo! Answers
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black_91_gti black_91...
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June 15, 2008
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Does the fact that i have no spark coming off the coil in my golf gti necessarily mean that the coil is bad?

the car was running great, then all of a sudden it started backfiring, and now it wont start at all. i pulled the coil wire off the distributor, and grounded it to the motor and turned it over....no spark. could this just be the coil or something more complex? the car is a 1991 vw golf gti with a 1.8L 8 valve motor. if it is the coil, what would cause it to go bad?
  • 2 years ago

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Uncle Jed by Uncle Jed
Member since:
April 11, 2008
Total points:
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Its probably something else because coils very seldom just die all at once. They will show signs before they go such as running bad usually when hot. And run OK when cold. Its more than likely a module or pickup coil or dist cap + rotor. Check these out as you will find the problem elsewhere. A coil is not out of the question but its usually something else.........UJN

Source(s):

Over 30 years in the automotive field
  • 2 years ago
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Other Answers (2)

  • Amaterasu by Amateras...
    Member since:
    June 01, 2008
    Total points:
    5924 (Level 5)
    You need to use a meter to check that you have power to the coil to make sure it's not a relay or maxi-fuse, but if you have power to the coil and no power from the coil, then the coil is the problem. That does not mean you don't have other problems further down the line - if it's been shorting or something it may have burned your cap and rotor, however you should start by testing the coil and replacing the necessary part and continue down the line from there.
    • 2 years ago
    0% 0 Votes
  • cowboyride2004 by cowboyri...
    Member since:
    July 10, 2008
    Total points:
    365 (Level 2)
    IF YOU PULL THE WIRE OFF THE COIL THE WIRE IS DED
    YOU NEED TO PULL THE WIRE OFF THE SPARKPLUG
    AND HOLE IT JUST OFF THE FRAME
    BUT IF THE CAR WAS BACK FIREING IT IS OUT OF TIME
    YOU NEED TO HAVE IT TIMED.
    • 2 years ago
    0% 0 Votes

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