6 replies to this topic

[Kernal H]

Good evening!

What exactly does a condensor do? And will it stop a car from running/sparking? My mini just cut out while on a hill the other day. And now it doesn't start... I parked it up in a neighbors driveway for now - but their home soon so I need to get it sorted!

Any help would be great!

Ps - All ignition is new (apart from condensor and points (which do spark)), and there's plenty of fuel in the tank, and a fully charged battery, AND I cleaned out all the fuel system thinking "silly C**p from tank getting in carb, grrr".

[Bungle]

you asked the wrong person for a simple answer

but i will try and explain

a condenser is a capacitor and sokes up the extra power when the points open

if you have a duff condenser it will burn out your points



can i now be a mini doc ?

[Kernal H]

haha ok. So if the points are ok then the condensor should be to? And once the points have 'burnt out' then it wont start. I might try getting a new condensor and some feeler gauges and try to do the points and condensor then.

[Kernal H]

You have your docterate when I get the thing started!

[m1n1]

if there's no spark across the points when you open them up either with a screwdriver or by turning over the engine, the condensor is usually faulty.

[Kernal H]

m1n1 - there is a spark when the points are opened with a screwdriver. Which means the condensor is good. If the points happened to be set incorrectly would this cause a poor/no spark?

[Leonard]

a condensor can can be ok when you start but then mess about after a couple of minutes. if the points gap is too small, it's hard to start when the engine is hot. i'd change both as theyre only a few quid each