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1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 11 Jun 2026, 19:39
by SWTurbo
Fitted a new rotor arm and distributor cap to a 1.9 DG, few miles down the road it broke down and a recovery company said the new rotor arm was faulty and shorted out. Any thing that could cause the rotor arm to short out outside of it being a poor quality arm?

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 06:52
by silverbullet
What brand and parts supplier? Rotor arms have a resistor in them, they can fail although I have yet to experience that.

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 10:23
by Aidan
and there is the rev limited version with the centrifugal contactor so parts id is important

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 14:15
by SWTurbo
Part was from heritage parts centre, 071-905-225/A, its the 5400 limited one.

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 18:59
by maxstu
Many moons ago l was advised not to use a limiter rotor. So didnt and never had a rotor short out problem. But can't recall the reason?

Try a standard version rotor and report back your findings.

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 19:15
by Aidan
very few peeps will ever rev a wbx to 5000rpm, even downhill when late for a booked ferry
use the DJ one 055 905 225 B

Re: 1990 1.9 DG Waterboxer replacement rotor arm shorted out?

Posted: 12 Jun 2026, 19:48
by tobydog
maxstu wrote: 12 Jun 2026, 18:59 Many moons ago l was advised not to use a limiter rotor. So didnt and never had a rotor short out problem. But can't recall the reason?

Try a standard version rotor and report back your findings.

It's something you don't need and an extra thing to go wrong :wink: