In a message dated 7/7/2005 2:31:29 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
How do you know your condenser is malfunctioning. Unless your points are burning badly in a short period or you have a hot start problem, the condenser is fine. I know: everyone changes them when they change points. I do not; I rarely change condensers. My points last as long as those that have the condenser changed. bigpups said the engine will start and idle pretty good but it would never make any power and now it is even hard to restart. These are the exact symptoms of a failing condenser (capacitor)! They work when they are cold but as soon as they are heated up, they begin to fail. The spark at idle is often sufficient to fire the plugs but the failing capacitor will have weakened the spark so that combustion under load will blow the spark out. WE DON'T KNOW if this is his problem, but you can't remove it and get a decent test either. The capacitor stores primary voltage so that the coil may create a STRONGER secondary spark. An electrolyte condenser has a limited life, maybe 8 to 12 years. That's why you don't need to change them with the points. But, how old do you think this one is? I would spend the $14 bucks. Jim Friesen Phoenix AZ 79 300SD, 261 K miles 98 ML 320, 136 K miles
