condenser problem

[tahoe healey]

I was getting some rough idling the other day and today I got a chance to check it out. I thought it was the points closing but as I adjusted them things got worse. Started, then died. Finally no starting at all. Changed the rotor (I have 3)with no joy. Changed the condenser and it started sweet and ran smooth.
Can they be tested as it is only a year or so old (3K's)? What would cause failure? I've run them on my other British cars for many, many years with out failures. Are they not made as well?
TH

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Sometimes they just fail.
Usually you see the points start pitting as they start to go, sometimes they just.....go.

I worked for Lincoln-Mercury in 1976, and they had a "bad batch", the tow trucks were lined up bringing them back.

I know I use an OLD Snap-On coil tester that also checks condensors.

There are expensive units to check capacitors in electronics, but in today's day of electronic ignition and fuel injection, finding a new condensor tester might be hard.

In the OLD days, you would inspect points, and if they were pitting on the grounded side, you changed the value of the condensor one way, if on the movable arm, you changed the value the other way.

I don't think I ever actually did that.

Points were cheap.
I still throw the old points, condensor, rotor, and at least one plug in a bag in the boot after a tune-up......just in case Rule One comes into play.

First Rule of Automotive Repair states: "Just because it's a new part doesn't mean it's a good part"

 

[startech47]

Search the Spridget thread for condensers. There is a failure analysis thread there.