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Author Topic: Ignition amplifier  (Read 2863 times)

Offline Winso

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Ignition amplifier
« 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!
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Offline rubjonny

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #1 on: 08 January 2009, 17:54 »
i would say so yeah!
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Offline Winso

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #2 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?
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Offline Mr Blue

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #3 on: 09 January 2009, 18:47 »
I keep one in my tool kit. You never know :laugh:


happend a few times to mine.
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:)

Offline Winso

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #4 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...
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Offline Ben Lessani

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #5 on: 10 January 2009, 23:45 »
Pardon my stupidity, but what is an ignition amplifier?
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Offline Winso

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #6 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.
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Offline danny_p

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #7 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
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all the VW's have gone bar 1.

Offline rubjonny

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #8 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?
« Last Edit: 12 January 2009, 10:54 by rubjonny »
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Offline danny_p

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Re: Ignition amplifier
« Reply #9 on: 12 January 2009, 11:22 »
heat sink not allways part of it.   i've had a few turn up as just the IC
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