Precautions when working with electronic ignition systems (VW Passat B3)

In electronic ignition systems, high voltage can be up to 30 kV (kilovolts). To avoid injury and/or damage to the electronic ignition system, pay attention to the following when working on a vehicle with an electronic ignition system:

• Do not touch or pull out the high-voltage wire with your hand while the engine is running or being cranked by the starter.
• Connecting and disconnecting measuring instrument wires (crankshaft speed meter, ignition tester) undertake only with the ignition off.
• The anti-interference capacitor and the test lamp must not be connected to terminal 1 (-).
• Before turning the engine shaft with the starter (for example, when checking compression), you need to turn off the ignition, remove the high-voltage wire from the ignition distributor (terminal 4) and connect it to ground using an auxiliary wire. For the Motronic system, disconnect the high-voltage transformer plug.
• The engine can be started from the charger for no more than 1 minute at a maximum voltage of 16.5 V.
• Do not replace the 1 kOhm ignition distributor rotor with another one, even if there is radio interference.
• In case of radio interference, use only 1 kOhm resistors for high voltage wires and 5 kOhm spark plug tips.
• When arc welding, disconnect the battery completely.

[The original text is available on the website: VWmanual.ru]