 Why do points fail?, and how to prevent it? |
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| dion9146 |
 Sep 25 2006, 07:09 PM
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 469 Joined: 16-May 04 From: Buckner, KY Member No.: 2,071 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region  |
I posted this story on another thread earlier, but I wanted to ask the broader question - why do points fail and how does one prevent that failure?
I have a 2.0 6 cylinder with MSD ignition, MSD Blaster2 coil and stock points. She has been running great since my engine rebuild, but over the weekend I had a problem. Driving along ripping corners in the country on a nice pre-fall day, and all of a sudden she starts running rough. So, I pointed it toward home and put the pedal down. About a mile out, she gave up and died. After I got my Father to flat tow me home, I started on the MSD diagnostic procedure. I check everything including replacing the coil, and nothing works. I get to the point where MSD recommends pulling the system out and sending it to them for further analysis....that's when I decided to check the points. A couple of passes with the emory cloth, and she cranked right up. The points are about 5 years old. They have 3 track events, two autocrosses and about 1000 road miles on them, both pre and post rebuild with about 3 years of sitting idle. So, does my current system contribute to a shorter life span? Hard driving? Sitting for any period of time? Condensor bad? I just don't want to get in the habit of replacing points every year just because. Any preventive maintenance I can do will be good. Dion |
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| Aaron Cox |
Sep 26 2006, 11:13 AM
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,542 Joined: 1-February 03 From: Corona, CA Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
pertronix = 70 bucks
compufire = the same crane xr7000 = 100 ish (too much hassle) buy a pertronix and keep spare points in your box if it dies.... |
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| tdgray |
Sep 26 2006, 12:10 PM
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Thank God Nemo is not here to see this Group: Members Posts: 9,706 Joined: 5-August 03 From: Akron, OH Member No.: 984 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Aaron Cox @ Sep 26 2006, 01:13 PM)  pertronix = 70 bucks compufire = the same crane xr7000 = 100 ish (too much hassle) buy a pertronix and keep spare points in your box if it dies.... Ab-sa-freakin-lutley. I got pertronix on both the MGA and the 914. Love it. Don't know who is giving the impression that the Pertronix is bad but donna listen to 'em. The only people that I know that have had problem with the Pertronix are those that improperly installed it (how the hell you do that I have no idea) or left the key on and fried it (which you can do with points as well). Go spend the 70 georges... you thank yourself later. |
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Posts in this topic
dion9146 Why do points fail? Sep 25 2006, 07:09 PM
BMXerror Points fail because they run on such low voltage. ... Sep 25 2006, 07:16 PM Bruce Allert Points fail due to friction and heat along with le... Sep 25 2006, 07:19 PM Matt Romanowski Most of the issue is the the contact material wear... Sep 25 2006, 08:57 PM messix every time the points open they spark, every spark... Sep 25 2006, 09:06 PM dion9146 Thanks for the responses so far guys. After I had... Sep 25 2006, 09:07 PM jsteele22 Just to add some physics geek ramblings to what... Sep 26 2006, 10:54 AM Toast My Crane IE failed me last year. I installed poin... Sep 26 2006, 11:09 AM
tdgray |
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