[T3] weird idle dips

[Dave Hall]

In 20 years of ownership of my Variant, I've changed the cap once, the leads
once, the rotor arm once and the plugs and points maybe 3 or 4 times.  I've
not changed the condensor or coil, which is still the Bosch black one, but
I've only done 55,000 miles (PO did about 40,000).   There's a 3,000 mile
service interval recommended for cleaning plugs, flatting points contacts,
setting dwell and timing which keeps things in good order, but I wouldn't
expect new plugs and points to be needed more often than every 12K miles.   

What coil are you running?  If it's a 'performance' coil, that might explain
excess erosion/deposition on the points (or is that scoring on the cam or
fibre heel?).

A spot of grease is all it needs - I use petroleum jelly, as that's what the
Beetle service information said to use in the '60s, but I don't think it
matters much. 

Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
===================

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Chris
Sheridan
Sent: 24 February 2012 19:42
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: [T3] weird idle dips

>Is the distributor cam lubricated?  Could be the points heel is wearing 
>quickly.

This is something I've ignored previously but have begun to do since I just
had Jim refurbish my distributor


>I assume you don't change all the components each tune up?

I always use Bosch Points, Condensor and Rotor, sometimes I can't find the
rright Bosch Cap, but I make every effort to. I use the Bosch hi-speed
service plugs as recommended in the owners manual.


I change the points and condensor every 3k/3months, the cap and rotor ever
6k/6months depending on wear - I regularly find the contact points inside
the cap scored after 6k, I change the plugs every 6k and typically find them
cacarbon coated by not wet or sludgy, just dry carbon, and the wires every
12 months

I also have changed the Pulse contacts 2 or 3 times over the last 12 years
I've owned the car.

Sounds like I have to be totally diligent with coating the distributor shaft
with grease - white lithium grease, correct?


What do the plugs look like when you take them out?  There might be clues
like oil or soot that show there's a problem outside the ignition system.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://lists.vwtype3.org/private.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org/attachments/20120224
/b28c6d41/attachment.htm>
_______________________________________________
VWType3.Org mailing list - type3 at vwtype3.org
http://lists.vwtype3.org/listinfo.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org
Contact gregm at vwtype3.org if you need help with the list.