What is this thing on the Coil

What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 02:36 AM

I cant remember what this thing is hooked onto the coil with 1 wire, looks like a capacitor. This is a 1972 318 with a points distributor.

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 02:39 AM

Condenser...

Fer radio interference...

Posted By: clemul

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 02:41 AM

It is a radio noise suppression condenser...

Posted By: Adam71Charger

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 02:45 AM

Can it cause ignition problems if it goes bad? Are certain coils designed to work with them, or is it just an add on?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 02:49 AM

& it goes on the positive pri terminal which yours does

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 04:23 AM

Quote:

Can it cause ignition problems if it goes bad? Are certain coils designed to work with them, or is it just an add on?

Yes it can go bad. In general they get 'leaky" which means they loose capacitance. Which shows up as additional ignition noise in the radio. It does not interfere with ignition operation. BTW, condenser and capacitor are two terms for the same device. Condensor is an archaic term and is used by the automotive industry and 90 year old amateur radio operators.
Craig

Posted By: RealWing

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 04:30 AM

Quote:

Can it cause ignition problems if it goes bad? Are certain coils designed to work with them, or is it just an add on?

Yes, it can definitely go bad and yes it is just an add on for radio noise suppression. The coil doesn't care if it is there or not

Posted By: feets

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 04:33 AM

Quote:

It is a radio noise suppression condenser...

Do they make one for the spousal unit?

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 04:41 AM

Quote:

Quote:

It is a radio noise suppression condenser...

Do they make one for the spousal unit?

Yes they do, but the most effective one has to be granted by a judge and its very expensive.

Many just put up with the noise.

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 05:38 AM

Quote:

Many just put up with the noise.

Pitiful...

My 43 year-old OEM AM/FM is 'noise-free'...

There are ways...

Posted By: 383man

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 06:31 AM

Yes they can go bad. The worst it can do is get so bad it can internally ground out. Had one once many years ago as it was a point car but the condenser grounded out and it would not start. And just about every tech that looked at it before me never even checked it. Ron

Posted By: dogdays

Re: What is this thing on the Coil - 11/20/14 07:03 PM

Funny, isn't it,in the automotive world a capacitor is called a condenser.

Yes they do go bad and the can type is especially susceptible to age-related failures. Becoming a short is the most common mode.

R.