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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Winso on 08 January 2009, 17:24

Title: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Winso on 08 January 2009, 17:24

I think my ignition amplifier (thing under the skuttle) may have died on me (again). Need a new one so I'm looking on GSF website and it doesn't have anything listed as an 'ignition amplifier', it does have a 'IGNITION CONTROL UNIT ' which fits all Mk2s of all ages by the looks of it. I've read that ignition amps are all the same throughout the range. Is this what I need or am just making wild guesses?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: rubjonny on 08 January 2009, 17:54

i would say so yeah!

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Winso on 09 January 2009, 18:15

Cheers mate, it was the right thing and now the car runs again (more by luck than judgement on my part!)

This is the 2nd time the ignition amp has gone in about 5k miles and I'm pretty sure the one I took out the first time it broke was very new so it looks like somethings causing my car to blow them pretty quick. Anyone got any ideas what?

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Mr Blue on 09 January 2009, 18:47

I keep one in my tool kit. You never know :laugh:


happend a few times to mine.

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Winso on 10 January 2009, 13:31

Yeh I think I might invest in a spare to carry in the car.

Got a feeling it's linked to my randomly flashing coolant light, oddly behaving rev counter and occasional stutter coming down the rev range. This all happens at 3k rpm. Bad earth is my guess but everything looks fine...

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Ben Lessani on 10 January 2009, 23:45

Pardon my stupidity, but what is an ignition amplifier?

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Winso on 11 January 2009, 23:40

Sits on top of the ECU under the scuttle. Don't know what it does actually. Might amplify something, might control something. If it's mine it just breaks.

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: danny_p on 11 January 2009, 23:53

did you put any zinc oxide paste under it when you changed it ?

no heatsink compound means it runs hot and dies

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: rubjonny on 12 January 2009, 10:50

the heatsink is part of the ign amplifier, i cant see metal bracket it is bolted to offering any usefull heat sink qualities as its just a bit o sheet metal.  were the units you bought proper bosch ones?

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: danny_p on 12 January 2009, 11:22

heat sink not allways part of it.   i've had a few turn up as just the IC

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: rubjonny on 12 January 2009, 11:36

Units without the heatsink are for MK1 Golfs, they have a different metal mounting bracket which is like a big heatsink :)
MK2 ones should always have the heatsink built in, if you dont have the heatsink I would agree it needs paste. However I dont think the MK2 bracket would be able to offer enough heat soak to stop it blowing, do you know if its possble to seperate the MK2 unit from the base without damage?

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: Winso on 12 January 2009, 15:22

The ones I got were GSF jobbies made by 'Hugo', not Bosch unfortunately. They did come with 'heatsinks' attached. The car doesn't seem to like the latest one though. It may be a coincidence but since changing it I've got an intermittant stutter at 3k rpm and my usual coolant warning light/bouncing rev needle problems ( http://www.clubgti.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=182317 ) have got a lot worse.

Title: Re: Ignition amplifier
Post by: mattkh on 12 January 2009, 17:42

Hi
Did you clean the contacts in the plug. If you can, put up a picture of the inside of the plug.