Pertronix coil question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 21
From: Dripping Springs Texas
Pertronix coil question
I have had two Pertronix Flamethrower coils fail on me in short order, short meaning a couple of weeks. Is this occurring to others, or do I have an electrical issue with my installation. I have experienced failures with the positive feed to the coil using the stock resistor wire as well as with a 12v feed to the coil (no resistor). Have gone back to a more stock 1.2 ohm Accel coil for now. Any perspectives on these failures would be appreciated as well as any suggestions for further troubleshooting. Thanks
Last edited by Saddlehorn; Jan 30, 2016 at 05:47 PM. Reason: clarity
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
I have had two Pertronix Flamethrower coils fail on me in short order, short meaning a couple of weeks. Is this occurring to others, or do I have an electrical issue with my installation. I have experienced failures with the positive feed to the coil using the stock resistor wire as well as with a 12v feed to the coil (no resistor). Have gone back to a more stock 1.2 ohm Accel coil for now. Any perspectives on these failures would be appreciated as well as any suggestions for further troubleshooting. Thanks
The FlameThrower coils are supposed to have a whole 12 volts going to them.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Something is wrong.
For once, I agree with TBTR. I have a Pertronix Flamethrower coil in my '74 coupe and in a recent thread, described the problems I had when it was running on the resistor wire. Engine cutting out frequently under load, etc. The problem was solved when I gave it a full 12-14 volts from the IGN terminal on the fusebox. Remember, when the alternator is running, you can get 14+ volts out of it and this goes through all the nearby wiring before internal resistance brings it down to a lower voltage.
So the problem with the OP is either his alternator is faulty and is putting out way more than 14.6 volts or he has been sold two faulty coils. I doubt the latter from a company such as Pertronix.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 21
From: Dripping Springs Texas
Update on coil failures. Just FYI. . . Have had no issues since installing a new non-Pertronix coil. Agree that two bad coils in succession is unusual, but have found no other explanation. Both Pertronix coils found to have failed secondary windings.
