Chrome_GT Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hey all, got ongoing issues with the Capri: *Spark is there but i'm suspecting it is weeker than it should be *points are pitting regularly - far more often than they used too years ago. Note that replacing condensors didn't fix this. I always replace condensors when i replace points and set points using dwell meter not just feeler gauges. *Have had issues starting and has died while running on moist days Does this sound like it could be the snowballing effect of having a bung coil? What are the typical symptoms of coil failure? What diagnostic checks are there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Mk1 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Id say its on its way. My Cortina 1600 OHV was having same troubles, but no condenser issues, had a weak spark, black and wet pulgs etc. I replaced Coil and plugs, and added another earth strap and shes never sounded so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome_GT Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 CIC31 - Champion Coil, 12v with internal resistance CIC32R - Champion Coil, for use with external resistance I changed the coil a couple years ago from whatever was in their to the cic31. Since around that time i've had issues with contacts burning out and also more wear in dissy cap than expected. Recently I have found drying out dissy with hair dryer has helped start an otherwise non starting car if moist. Car has felt gutless and spark isn't as bright as i thought it should be. My theory as to what has happened: -Fitted 12V non ballast type coil despite having the external ballast resistor -This has burned out contact points regularly -Coil has burnt out or degraded due to mismatch <- any thoughts???? -Spark has become week -Car has been a bit gutless, won't start with moist conditions, dies in really moist days. -The slightest amount of moisture, which is normally not a problem, has been causing problems since the weak spark voltage is less tolerable to moisture. This is why i found drying distributor up has helped. Will fit correct coil CIC32R today and see what happens. Obviously time will tell if that is the reason for points going but hopefully car is less effected by moist days, starts first time, and has more spark = more power Someone in another forum said that a 12V coil (with internal resistance) would get burnt out on a car with the extrenal ballast resistor. Why? It is also suggested that this combo burns out points. why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Mk1 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Im rocking the CIC32R also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forced Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Normally when you get stuck it's because of a combination of problems. Your above explanation from the other forum sounds like BS, a 12V coil with ballast will give weaker spark though. It's quite commmon for people to spray their ignition system (dissy cap) with CRC or similar. What happens then is that dust will stick to it, then moisture sticks to the dust on a damp day. Then the HT starts tracking across the dissy dap which causes misfire.If the tracking continues it burns into the dissy cap which probably needs replacing. Just something to look at. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemi Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Normally when you get stuck it's because of a combination of problems. Your above explanation from the other forum sounds like BS, a 12V coil with ballast will give weaker spark though. It's quite commmon for people to spray their ignition system (dissy cap) with CRC or similar. What happens then is that dust will stick to it, then moisture sticks to the dust on a damp day. Then the HT starts tracking across the dissy dap which causes misfire.If the tracking continues it burns into the dissy cap which probably needs replacing.Just something to look at. Steve sorta make sensish ... id try getting a different dizzy cap and having a blat with that bacause as force siad they sometimes track and the spark end up going elsewhere other then to the leads. i had a prob on my escort when i had it but it was because i didnt realise that the wire to the coil was internally resisted and i had a ballest resistor and a resisted coil .. god that was stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome_GT Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 i had a prob on my escort when i had it but it was because i didnt realise that the wire to the coil was internally resisted and i had a ballest resistor and a resisted coil .. god that was stupid That's exactly what I've done. What were the symptoms you were having with the escort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemi Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 i had a prob on my escort when i had it but it was because i didnt realise that the wire to the coil was internally resisted and i had a ballest resistor and a resisted coil .. god that was stupid That's exactly what I've done. What were the symptoms you were having with the escort? umm if i remember it was misfireing underload and random missing at cruise , was also not nice to start either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome_GT Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 re dissy cap. I replaced that a couple times over the last few years aswell. It has been showing more wear than usual too. Anyways. The new coil made an instant difference to the starting. It now fires up after one crank whereas before replacing it has taken 4 cranks or so to get it to fire up, if it fires up. Now that it starts so much easier i expect that moisture won't be an issue. Spark appears slightly bigger as compared before replacing and after. Haven't noticed any significant difference in the power. Capri seems gutless, I must have suffered the power bug after driving a v6 alfa for 5 months. Next time we have a wet shitty week i'll switch back to the Capri for a few days. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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