The various comments about "not changing" the condenser are logical enough
but I think I'll start changing them more often. Last summer I had one fail
on Manitoulin Island (which is rather remote). We were driving the 77
Austin Marina with a freshly rebuilt 1.8. I had put some 5,000 miles on
the car with no ignition problems and do not know why the condenser failed.
I suspect the sustained high speed running in very hot weather may have
contributed.
My suggestion is to change the condenser when you change the points but keep
the old one as a spare in the car if it is a proven good condenser. I had a
new one in the boot last summer and changed it on the side of the road. I
now own a stubby magnetic screwdriver for that job, as it is very easy to
drop the mounting screw. At the time the best screwdriver length I could
come up with was my Swiss Army Knife.
Fred Pixley
Napanee, Ontario, Canada
fpixley@kingston.net
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