Ignition problem

[steve williams]

Hi, wonder if anyone has had a similar problem.

My P6b Auto, 1973 has developed what appears to be an intermittent ignition fault, perhaps temperature sensitive?

The car has been tuned/timing set up etc. New coil, points condenser. After about half an hour or so of driving the car starts to conk out, splutter etc and will barely go until its been sat for an hour or so, or the points/condenser have been touched. Basically, last week it broke down, I waited for the RAC which was about 40 mins, the RAC guy said that the spark was weak and after touching the points the car went and was fine until I broke down again twelve miles closer to home, upon being rescued by a mechanic mate who looked at the points and put my old condenser back in, the car went again. I'm wondering if once up to temperature that the heat is affecting the wiring in the dizzy? The earth wire is very threadbare, the insulating sleeving falling apart and could easily be moved once the points/condenser are looked at. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, modern aftermarket condensers have a reputation for failing and shouldn't be trusted. Try and see if you can get NOS Lucas condensers, or carry on using the old condenser for as long as it works. Ironically because there's a demand for Lucas condensers some little tinkers are counterfeiting the boxes as well. It doesn't really matter about the earth wire losing its insulation as long as its secure and intact. If you want replace it don't use a cable that is thick or stiff because it can hamper the advance operation. They use braid because of its flexibility. As an aside if you want some cheap braid then get some old co-axial cable and strip off the outer sheath and you will find the screening if you slide this off and holding each end and pull it tight it will close up. If you want it to carry more current slide another length over the first and pull again.

Colin

 

[steve williams]

Hi,
Well....mate of mine has replaced the points/condenser with an acuspark kit I bought a while back, tweaked the timing and this seems to have sorted it fingers crossed. Took it for a long run and seems fine now.