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From: Citizen Kang <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [hooligan racing] CRX: Distributor Cap problems
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 17:04:40 -0800
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While you can file the contacts inside the cap to prolong the life, it isn't recommended for optimum performance (which is why you bought the MSD package, right?). Removing material increases the gap, which can result in reduced spark inside the engine. If your spark plugs are worn and your wire set is questionable, you might end up with incomplete combustion due to a weak spark. Also, removing more material from one terminal than another can likewise weaken the spark for some cylinders, resulting in a power imbalance.
And like Rob said, $40 US isn't a huge amount of money for a distributor cap. You could always upgrade to DIS and eliminate cap & rotor replacement forever...
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert K. Kuhn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: February 10, 2003 9:17 AM
To: George Freeman
Cc: The Rex list; where the hooligan's are!
Subject: RE: [hooligan racing] CRX: Distributor Cap problems
- On 05:34 PM 02/09/03 -0500, George Freeman said...
- I just got done putting in the replacement o-ring on the distributor and
- found the rotor pitted and the distributor cap terminals encrusted with
- corrosion. The problem is the cap is the MSD modified cap (for use with
- external coil) and costs over $40 to replace!
- Question #1: is there a way to continue to use the existing cap to
- stretch the useable lifetime (recommend any cleaners?)
- A jewellers file or something that has the same fine cut as said file is what you need to use to clean up those contacts and you'll want to do it very carefully. If you have a Dremel tool or something similar, head down to the local hobby shoppe and/or hardware store and pick up a sanding bit that is very fine (I don't know the actual grit but it will almost be like paper) and then you'll want to use a very slow speed setting.
- Usually, I will take an Exacto knife and carefully scrape the edge that is burnt/pitted.
- To blow out debris, I use canned air very carefully.
- I've done this with many of my Bosch caps from my past cars as a sort of "cheap" way to extend the life until I could get an actual new-replacement. :^)
- Question #2: does anyone know of a third party source who just carries
- the cap (MSD's kit comes with a new coil wire which I don't need, hence
- the high price
- )?
- (* snip *)
- My understanding is that the coil wire needs to be replaced when the cap is to ensure performance and reliability. $40 (USD) is a lot but that's sort of the trade off and price one pays for performance. FWIW, the stock dizzy cap for our BMW use to cost me $80 (USD) and there were a few places where I could get it for about $50. Plug wires, anywhere from $250 to $350 for a set - although if you were part of the BMWCCA, you could get them for about half that.
- Robert K. Kuhn
- CRX Owners Group President (http://www.crx.org/southcal)
- 1990 Honda CRXsi (http://www.hooligan.cc)
- ICQ # 3714283 (nickname: godzilla)
- Julian Drive (San Diego County) - February 22, 2003
- http://www.crx.org/southcal/events.html
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