Ignition Coil Problem/Which one do I get?

[Jzagro]

Hey everyone. I don't know if this is the right place to post this because I am new on the forums.

So here is my problem, hopefully someone could help me out with this.

I have a 1978 Fiat 124 Spider. I recently got the engine free'd up and all the distributor parts replaced(points, cap, rotator, and condensers), I got new spark plug wires, got new spark plugs and I got a new ignition coil.

The points I put in looked the same as the old ones. The condenser is about the same as the old one. The ignition coil has no internal resistor or external resistor.(Internet stores called for ignition coil that the resistor was in the circuit already.)

So i got it started and the engine sounded pretty good and had it running for a while. Turned it off. Went to go start it up again about 10 or 20 mins later and nothing. Checked the sparks on the spark plugs and nothing. Went to look under the distributor and one of the points had melted the part where it bumps to open the gap. There was also burn marks on the points. Like the metal had turned odd colors in the middle of one of the points and near the actually point on the other. So i put one of the old points back on.

I put the old point back on and went to start it, and it worked again! So it ran again for about 10 mins, I stopped it, then tried to start it again and nothing. This time the ignition coil began leaking oil and got really really hot.

So i replaced the ignition coil again and same thing happened after running for a bit, ignition coil got really really hot, burned out and leaked oil. So Im not sure what is causing this because I checked all the wiring and nothing looked bad at all or even worn. It all looks in pretty good shape.

So what do you think the problem is?? Is it my ignition coil? Wiring? Points? If anyone could help me that would be great.

[My4thFiat]

Hi Jzagro - I don't make my living repairing Fiats - but maybe a little research is needed. I also own a '78 124 Spider and my car has an original "from the factory" electronic ignition. That means there ARE NO points inside the distributor and the coil is suited to a more "souped up" spark. A suggestion: Contact supply folks or get a good repair manual and put your auto back to original - that being said - maybe some of the '78s had points and not electronic distributors, ex: european, Calif, - I just don't know for sure. What I do know - I have repair manuals from 3 different publishers and they all say my '78 came with electronic ignition. Maybe a previous owner tried to go "old school" with the points before you acquired the car.

Need to check, Ron

[Jzagro]

Yeah, from what I know is that there were two different versions of the 1978 fiat made. Maybe I can a no point distributor somewhere and see if that works. But I do have a manual for it, and it doesn't give me a definite on the ignition coil or maybe im not digging deep enough. But I will check again.

[70spider]

AutoRicambi has the Petronix system, http://www.autoricambi.us/product/IG0-0 ... --1971-78/ , and coil http://www.autoricambi.us/product/IG2-0 ... k-1966-78/ ,it has worked out great for my '70

[Jzagro]

Thanks! I will try that out. Hopefully it'll work! if not, ill let yall know. If someone could let me know if there is a way without replacing my points. Let me know that too. Thanks.

[azruss]

sounds to me like you need a resistor.

[Jzagro]

Should I get an external resistor with the coil? Or is there one in the system??

[azruss]

Not sure which is the best way to go. If you dont have an internal resistor at this time, then an external is the way to go. Csaba is more familiar with this stuff. Maybe he will chime in.

[vandor]

If you buy a coil from a Fiat parts vendor you will get the correct one, not one that some database thinks might fit your car.

BTW, the factory electronic ignition came in the 1979 model year, if an earlier Spider has it then it was either a dealer option (Marelli Plex system) or fitted later.

[Jzagro]

Alright, thanks tons. Is there a specific website I can go to for Fiat parts? like a specialized website? This is my first Spider I am restoring so I am kind of new to it.

[4uall]

The post above yours looks like a good place to start

http://www.autoricambi.us

[Jzagro]

Thank you all very much! I shall note if it worked and if I have any other problems, you guys are really going to help me get this car back to head turning status. Thanks!