Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: Sniper]
#3131526
03/22/23 07:28 PM
03/22/23 07:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 530 SW CO
HemiSportFury
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 530
SW CO
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Car won't start, with no spark or if it dies once it gets hot, again with no spark. Back in the day we always carried a spare condenser or two because failure was very common. First thing to do when your car woudn't start was to change the condenser. And that was when we had quality replacement parts. The points ignition was very reliable but the condenser was the weak link.
'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60 '57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process '19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite '03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
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Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: Kudakidd]
#3131571
03/22/23 09:50 PM
03/22/23 09:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,822 Colorado
denfireguy
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,822
Colorado
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No matter where the cap is, it stops arcing or other noise. To trouble shoot, just disconnect it. If it is for the points, the car will then start if it was bad and you took it out of the circuit. Get a new one and put it in. It will run okay without it but pitting of the points will start so do not do it keep it out of the circuit long. If it is the dash capacitor, just replace it and be done with it. Capacitors only fail one of two ways: it shorts out and carries whatever it is hooked to straight to ground. On points the car won't start. The second, the capacitor "Leaks" which means it no longer works as a capacitor and does not filter noise. You will hear its effect in your AM radio when that happens. And it also leads to one side of the points to pit and the other to build up metal throwing your dwell off.
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie, 73 Cuda Previous mopars: 62 Valiant, 65 Fury III, 68 Fury III, 72 Satellite, 74 Satellite, 89 Acclaim, 98 Caravan, 2003 Durango Only previous Non-Mopar: Schwinn Tornado
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Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: Kudakidd]
#3131592
03/22/23 11:29 PM
03/22/23 11:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,303 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,303
Bend,OR USA
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Using a ohm meter from the input lead to the case should tell you if it is open or grounded If it is grounded internally I think it is bad I'm thinking it should be open and you can charge them with two leads, ! + and 1- from your car battery and the very carefully discharge it with the lead by grounding it to the case, it should arc Don't become the conductor, it will shock you and hurt too
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 03/22/23 11:31 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#3131606
03/23/23 06:43 AM
03/23/23 06:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,861 Witness Protection Program
Kudakidd
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,861
Witness Protection Program
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Car won't start, with no spark or if it dies once it gets hot, again with no spark. Back in the day we always carried a spare condenser or two because failure was very common. First thing to do when your car woudn't start was to change the condenser. And that was when we had quality replacement parts. The points ignition was very reliable but the condenser was the weak link. It IS the dizzy condensor. The main point (couldn't resist), is how will the engine run? My engine will start easily, idle well, and cruise at lower speeds smoothly. When I put my foot into it, it bucks and hesitates almost as if I had a rev limiter. And yes I checked the float levels on the carb.
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Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: denfireguy]
#3131618
03/23/23 09:16 AM
03/23/23 09:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,912 S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,912
S.E. Michigan
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On points the car won't start. I've had them start the engine just fine but the capacitor went intermittent, and the car would start shooting ducks. Thought I'd blow the mufflers apart in my Charger last time it happened. Just because something starts and runs, doesn't mean the capacitor is 100%. Caps can (and do) break internally in such a way as go intermittent, and will drive a person crazy finding the problem. I've had a couple capacitors go intermittent in guitar amps too. Infuriating and difficult to find the source of the problem when that happens. A person is actually fortunate when something completely fails, at least that makes it more obvious when the solution is found.
Rich H.
Esse Quam Videri
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Re: Symptons of a Bad Condensor
[Re: Kudakidd]
#3131620
03/23/23 09:27 AM
03/23/23 09:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,759 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,759
North Dakota
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It IS the dizzy condensor. The main point (couldn't resist), is how will the engine run? My engine will start easily, idle well, and cruise at lower speeds smoothly. When I put my foot into it, it bucks and hesitates almost as if I had a rev limiter. And yes I checked the float levels on the carb.
If the engine starts easily, idles well, and cruises well, I doubt it's the condenser. But it does sound like you have a weak ignition system. WOT puts more load on the ignition system and if there are problems, that's when you'll see them. But I could be wrong, been wrong before.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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