New ignition coil = smoking distributor?

[Fifty Six MGA]

I put the new Bosch blue coil in tonight, and tried to start it up. I must have wired something up wrong. My distributor was smoking a lot, enough that I grabbed the fire extinguisher. Disconnected the wire from the coil to the distributor fast, then watched it for 10 minutes to make sure it wasn't going to start a fire or anything.

Now I'm pretty sure I've destroyed my distributor.

Any thoughts?

[Fifty Six MGA]

Ok, well that's a clue. The white wire in the picture of my exploded coil was connected to the positive terminal, with the red wire to the distributor. It a fit of cluelessness, I thought I remembered it being hooked up to the Negative terminal with the black wire.

So now my distributor appears to be damaged. Or the electronic ignition.

Frustrated because I was really looking forward to the drive Monday. Any suggestions?

I feel like I'm learning a lot with this car, knowing next to nothing before I got it, but some of these lessons are expensive and frustrating...

[tannyo]

Put points and condenser in the distributor and try again. Maybe Malcolm has a spare you could use.

[Steve Simmons]

X2 on Tanny's suggestion. Double check the wiring and put points in. You've just discovered one of the downsides of electronic ignition. They are unforgiving of wiring or polarity issues.

I have a used Pertronix unit here that I don't need in case you prefer that route.

[Fifty Six MGA]

I wouldn't really say I have "preference" for anything yet! I'm so far in the learning stage that I don't really know what I prefer!

To be honest, I need to read up on distributors and ignition systems, I don't really even know how they work and what the difference is between the original ones and the one I have! Learning as I go.

Geoff

[Martin Keller]

To be honest, I need to read up on distributors and ignition systems, I don't really even know how they work and what the difference is between the original ones and the one I have! Learning as I go.

Geoff

Hi Geoff,

Here is a link that explains the ignition system so even I can understand it so you should find it informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDWGtWmB1D0&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MossTV also is a good source on how to do things as in this example.

http://www.mossmotors.com/sitegraphics/ ... rical.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this helps in some way.

[VWNate1]

It is important to match the primary resitance of the coil , measured between the two low voltage terminals , to the system's needs .

I don't know what electronic system you have but they're *very* sensitive to this , most coils will be either 3 Ohms or 1.3 ~ 1.6 Ohms , the primary difference is the voltage supplied to the coil from the key switch ~

6 ~ 9 volts DC means it's a ballasted system and needs a low resistance coil .

12 volts at the coil's power lead means it's an un ballasted system and needs a 3 Ohm coil .

Pertronix Ignitors are very picky about this and will also blow out the *instant* you reverse the current polarity on them , so far I've not found anyone who'll sell the replacement hall effect generator .