924Board.org

[TonyMechanic]

My '82 924 NA keeps burning up Ignition coils, I'm thinking its the Ignition Control Unit. Anyone have any other ideas? or experience with this?

[Richard]

I would start with a live amperage test at the hot going to the coil. I would go out and give you a figure to compare it to, but I'm a bit under the weather. The negative side of the coil goes to the fuel pump relay before it ultimately reaches ground, so a short here could be pulling to much current through the coil. It could be the ignition unit but I kind of doubt it because I think it just controls the timing of the spark like points use too. Which side of the coil is burned out, the primary or the secondary?
To test the primary, hook up your ohnmeter from the small plus to negative terminals. To test the secondary side, from plus to center contact post where the ignition wire goes to the distributor. I'm not sure what this will gain us at this time, mostly curious. I would install a small glass auto type fuse in a holder at the pos. terminal. Start with around a 1/2 amp fuse larger than the amperage draw you measured. If this blows right away, move up in size 1/2 amp. By the way, does the coil blow immeadately or does it take a while? A fuse will save $$$$ money on coils while you are sorting this out, because right now your coil is the fuse.