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Help!!! Volvo 454 burning up external coils!!!

C

Classic Mack

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]I have a 1994 Volvo 454. I have accidentally left my key on maybe three times in the past and have had the 12V external coil swell up and become inoperable. So I am now in the habit of removing the key when not in use. I recently took a trip and had maybe 60hrs on the coil, and with the key being removed found the coil in the same shape one morning. Replaced and boat cranked and ran fine. A few days ago I had lower unit issues so had to sit anchored up waiting for a tow. While anchored up for 40 minutes the key may have been left on. In this 40 minutes the coil swelled up and the oil came out the top. With the key on I have 12V.... With the key on and engine running I have 13.5V Is there any way that having the key on for 40 minutes could burn up a healthy coil???
 
Classic Mack said:
]....Is there any way that having the key on for 40 minutes could burn up a healthy coil???
Click to expand...
Well you could put a new coil in and leave the key on for 40 minutes to find out. Oh wait, you did that already. A ballast resistor will help some. What brand and model coil?
 
Not sure.....just generic coil from Napa.....had to look up a 1975 suburban.....has 12V external resistor on it. When I bought the boat used it had this same thing Written on the coil. It is supposed to have an external resistor but I guess I could maybe ohm out the negative wire on coil to ground and make sure it's not open?
 
Yes, its a prestolite ignition. So today i called the company that i bought the coils from and they said that the coil says to add resistor for points or not for electronic......they said the coil would work either way. Their recommendation was to add a resistor but i am skeptical about this just by thinking that it will lessen my spark intensity? I also checked to confirm wiring.... There are four wires on the coil. two wires go to the distributor and one to a tach and one for the 12V feed from ignition switch. Any thoughts?


Thanks
 
if the OEM says add a resistor, I'd add it...it may lessen your high voltage output but it won't matter....Once the secondary voltage gets to the breakdown point, the spark occurs and the voltage doesn't need to "go higher"....worst case is you stop cookin coils..
 
Well the marine parts supplier suggested to add a resistor. There was a factory prestolite distributor and I have since replaced the module with the one listed below in the link. They keep saying that I shouldn't have to have a resistor but to try it. I am ok with trying that just wish I knew the root cause. They also said adding a resistor shouldn't weaken my spark.

Thanks

Here is the link for the coil
http://www.ebasicpower.com/p/BPI9-29701/

Here is the link for the module
http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/p/BPI112003
 
I had a guy awhile back say that he had ignition problems, not sure what they were but he changed entire distributor to a marine HEI. The coil and everything would be made into distributor. So at least the pickup would match the coil then vs me having the aftermarket module. Thoughts?

Also a dumb question..... Is there any way the timing being off could cause this? Boat seems to run fine so it would have to be close. I set 10BTDC with a light.
 
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