C1 Coil and Melted Wires

[Ted S.]

I bought an original 091 coil and had a shop to install it. The shop said the coil was bad and it melted the wires going from the ballast resistor to the starter. I tested the coil for resistance with a volt meter last night and was getting around 2 ohms on the primary, about 8K ohms from the center to either + or -, and an open circuit from any either post or the center to the can. That appears to be within the specs for the coil according to a motors manual. They indicated that the engine was running when smoke started coming from the engine compartment.

Now I'm wondering if they left the ignition on with the points closed which burned the wires rather than the coil being bad. Is it possible that as the engine heated the coil it shorted out? If so, wouldn't the engine have died due to the short?

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Update: the resistance between the + and - terminals is 1.3 ohms and the resitance between the + or - and the coil wire terminal is 8.66 K ohms. Again open circuit from any terminal to can.

[William C.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

The usual cause for burning those particular wires is pinching the wiring harness to the coil under the shielding. Fries those wires real good, every time! I doubt that the coil was the problem, more likely the shop did not want to take responsibility for their error.

[Albert P.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

I suggest you also check your wiring harness for the wire that goes to your ignition switch as that sometimes gets fried too in such cases.

[Dennis A.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

Ted...
William has it... More C1 wires are "Fried" under the Shielding than other places.... Check and add some insulation tape if you see a burnt spot. GM added a insulation strip on later models.

[Gary B.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

Re loud mufflers......

Years ago when I had a Corvair I had Glass Packs on it.

One night while I was worrking I let a girlfriend borrow the car.

While driving through town she was stopped by the police for the noise.

When she explained the noise just started and she would mention it to me to get them fixed the officer replied.....

I don't think so.... This is Gary's car and it has had these muffers on for quite awhile.

He was actually checking to see if the car was stolen.

It is nice to have friends.

[John H.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

I bought an original 091 coil and had a shop to install it. The shop said the coil was bad and it melted the wires going from the ballast resistor to the starter. I tested the coil for resistance with a volt meter last night and was getting around 2 ohms on the primary, about 8K ohms from the center to either + or -, and an open circuit from any either post or the center to the can. That appears to be within the specs for the coil according to a motors manual. They indicated that the engine was running when smoke started coming from the engine compartment.

Now I'm wondering if they left the ignition on with the points closed which burned the wires rather than the coil being bad. Is it possible that as the engine heated the coil it shorted out? If so, wouldn't the engine have died due to the short?

A dollar will get you a donut that they didn't bother to check the orientation of the coil (+) terminal when they installed the coil, and when they jammed the top ignition shield down, it shorted the coil (+) terminal end against the inside of the shield. VERY common mistake, have seen it many times. It wasn't a bad coil - it was a sloppy installation.

[William C.]

Re: C1 Coil and Melted Wires

I'm with you John, that nasty radio shield will get you every time if not careful.

[Ted S.]

Thanks for the Responses

I'll give it a try and install it to see if it is ok. I had one of the repro 091s and was having problems and Roy suggested by the symptoms it may be the coil. Thanks again, Ted