New Member - with issues....

[VW911]

Hello everybody.
New to this site (and not good with computers, so please bear with me!)
I have a large amount of Porsche bolted into the back of my VW camper - '76 2.7S
(God, I am really sorry if I'm offending the purists...)
Anyway..... I NEED help (Mods please move this post if appropriate)

When I bought the van, it had 2 batteries, one for the engine, and the other for leisure purposes... (Or so I was told.)
After breaking down at Croyde (Big Sunday Weekend) I eventually got around to looking at both batteries... Whilst trying to diagnose the no spark problem, realised that the 'leisure' battery was actually boiling, and since then the 'main' battery has been discharging literally overnight...
So, a couple of questions......
1, Would my engine originally have had 2 batteries?
2, Could the muppetry between the batteries have 'spiked' the CDI unit (AA suggest this as the no spark issue)?
3, Where can I get a cheap/recon/repaired CDI (3 Pin)?

Many thanks in advance for any help/suggestions....

Andrew (Clueless t--t)

[impmad2000]

Hi Andrew, welcome to DDK.
Boiled batteries is usually an indication of over voltage. I'd suspect the voltage regulator if i were you. An over voltage will almost certainly have blown the CDI. I assume its a genuine Bosch unit. It takes out a zener diode transistors and burns out a track ! All fixable though. I know 'cos I fix these ! Do a quick search, you'll see I've fixed a few for people on here.
PM me and I'll give you an address to send it to.
A '76 2.7s would be single battery.
Good luck.
Tim

[VW911]

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the reply. Where would I find the voltage regulator - alternator? (Ignorance is no substitute for knowledge!)

[impmad2000]

Either on the altornator or a seperate unit. Not sure where it would be in your vehicle.