9 replies to this topic

[1293clubby]

Anyone know why my mini is getting through condensors? every time i replace it within a week or two it fails. i replace it and it works again straight away.
its not the wrong coil because have always used the same type. (lucas sport coil)
Could the voltage thingy on the alternator be faulty? Everything else to do with ignition is brand new.

[dklawson]

That is very curious. The condenser is really a capacitor and I've always assumed that they were designed for an operating voltage well in excess of what is normally seen on a car... particularly since this is in the ignition circuit. If your alternator were going bad there could indeed be too much voltage on the ignition system but I'd expect you'd see other strange behavior. Do you think your car's ventilation fan seems to be running excessively fast? How about the windshield wipers, are they working extra fast compared to other Minis? Have you been going through headlamp and/or turn signal bulbs faster also? If the answer to these questions are 'no', then the problem probably isn't with the alternator or charging system.

I can't think of anything with the coil (your only remaining 'old' ignition part) that would cause this either. The only common things that I've seen kill capacitors (non-polarized ones like this) are excessive heat or voltage.

[1293clubby]

No I have not been going through bulbs and the heater is fine. the wipers are a bit slow if anything.
Would the car run if the coil wires were the wrong way round. I am sure they are not but someone suggested it.
I have been having a misfiring problem which is why i bought al new ignition parts. The coil is new too. the misfire seems to have gone but now these condensors are going. its bizaare. Think i will get a new alternator and see if the problem stops. cant see any other thing to do.

[dklawson]

Before investing in a new alternator, invest in a volt meter, a dash mount one. They are easy to install (one side to switched +12V, the other side to chassis ground/earth). Don't worry about your alternator unless the volt gauge shows spikes where the system is above 15V. I like VDO stuff because the gauges respond "fast", the Smiths volt meters (at least the older ones) were slow to respond and might miss spikes.

The coil will work hooked up "backwards" but at reduced spark voltage. Different coils are marked with different symbols/numbers on their low tension sides. Since your coil is new it should have come with a flier showing the proper connections. On late model cars the (+) terminal goes to the ignition switch and the (-) terminal goes to the distributor or ignition module connection.

If you still have your old coil, and if it works at all, you may want to try re-installing it for a while when you put a fresh condenser in the ignition to see if it makes any improvement.

[1293clubby]

Hi doug. Have been speaking to my local mini garage and they think that the coil i am using is wrong. Becaused I do not have a ballasted ignition system the uprated power of the lucas sport coil (dlb105) is destroying the condensors. I did have an old lucas sport coil on before but because it was old it may not have been damaging the condensors to distruction but it could have been the cause of my original misfire problem. Have bought the correct coil now so time will tell if this was the problem. Have checked the wiring and it is definitely not the wrong way round. Gonna keep a spare condensor in the boot at all times. Regards. rich

[dklawson]

I have never installed a performance coil so I don't know the caveats about using them. I hope that your mechanic is correct and that fitting a less agressive coil gives you a more reliable system. However, I would have thought that if the coil was the problem you'd see rapid wear of the points as well as the condenser problems. Be sure to post back after a while and let us know if the high-performance coil was indeed the problem.

[Dan]

Like DK I'm not sure about that one. It's ballasted ignition that you CAN'T use a Lucas Sports Coil with. In fact since Lucas don't make and have never made a ballasted Sports Coil I'd be inclined to ignore any mechanic that said to use one on a ballasted system completely.

How many condensers has it used up? Genuine Lucas ones are very often non functional when you buy them and while the aftermarket versions do generally actually work they don't work as well as a good Lucas one or last as long. It could just be that if you've only been through 2 or 3 then you have been buying bad ones. I've had several bad ones in the past, if this is the case you just need to hope you get a good one really. Of course by the time you've paid for that many new condensors it may be cheaper to buy a Magnetronic or Ignitor unit.

Edited by Dan, 12 April 2006 - 12:44 PM.

[dklawson]

I don't run points anymore and I haven't got any distributors around later than the 23/25 series to look at. However, I was curious about whether or not you could adapt a Bosch condenser to fit inside a Lucas dizzy. The ratings are all about the same, somewhere close to 23 uF. Since a number or Minis (including mine) run a Bosch Blue coil, it only makes sense that you could use a Bosch condenser (like from an air cooled VW) with it. Sure, you'd have to do something clever with regard to the mounting foot, but the only other change that should be required would be to crimp on a forked electrical lug for the points connection in place of the standard VW termination.

[1293clubby]

HMMM. It has been 3 or 4 condensors now. Not sure about what brand they all were but 2 of them were Intermotor. All of them worked at first so they cant have been duff out of the box. Have not done a lot of driving since i changed it last time. Am carrying a spare condensor so will see if it keeps happening.
Other than being unlucky with condensors i dont see what else it could be.



How long should a condensor usually last?

[Russ528]

I'm having exactly the same problem.

Replaced everything on the ignition system (except the actual distributor)in about June/July last year. Everything ran lovely, but since December, I've gone through 2 more condensors - all 'intermotor'.