96 2.8L Jetta DOHC won't start when its damp out

Sep 22, 2008 3 Replies

My car is a 1996 VW Jetta V6 2.8L DOHC with the Distributorles Ignition System (DIS). I noticed that in the morning when it is wet... after a soaking rain, heavy dew, or extremely humid day, the DIS was sparking beween the DIS and each (or some of the) plug wire connector. I am surmizing that the plug wires are going bad, but am still confused because the DIS is an epoxy filled module... how it it shorting and to what???



I was going to try and replace the wireset, but dang... impossible with the infamous "tool, special". Any help is appreciated in this...


Those coils are notorious for going bad. I would bet money that its the coil rather than the wires. I always replace both though.

The coils actually crack & allow water to enter which gives a path to ground.

Craig

I usually reseal them esp since the 2001 coil packs cost over $400. There are some websites devoted to this procedure!

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Also from Chris,

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Mark

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