My 73 Maverick w/302 V8 is having a problem with the points. The car was running fine then I could not get it started one morning. I have replaced the spark plugs, coil and the entire distributor. Car ran fine for two days then barley ran. Replaced points - Car ran fine for another 2 days. Replaced points and coil with the best on the market.... you guessed it... 2 days of running good then runs crappy. My mechanic thought that I initally thought I had the wrong model coil and that it may be pushing out too much power to the points and causing them to go bad. So after we replaced the coil and the points again we are back to ground zero with the car running poorly after one day driving. Is there something else that could be causing my points to "burn out"?
My 73 Maverick w/302 V8 is having a problem with the points. The car was running fine then I could not get it started one morning. I have replaced the spark plugs, coil and the entire distributor. Car ran fine for two days then barley ran. Replaced points - Car ran fine for another 2 days. Replaced points and coil with the best on the market.... you guessed it... 2 days of running good then runs crappy. My mechanic thought that I had put on the wrong model coil and that it may be pushing out too much power to the points and causing them to go bad. So after we replaced the coil and the points again we are back to ground zero with the car running poorly after one day driving. Is there something else that could be causing my points to "burn out"?
With the key on check the voltage level at the positive side of the coil. The factory installed a resistance wire to reduce this voltage to about 9.5 volts. Also make sure you replace the condenser along with the points.
Is not the condensor inside the distributor? If so then the answer is yes - I had the entire distributor replaced.
Some people turn the key on for the radio.....If you've done this very thing....The points can burn up. Always turn your key to acc.(backwards position)
I have the same engine. Just a couple of weeks ago I replaced the plugs, wires, points and condensor. I was given some good specs and advice by members of this forum and my car engine is running great. Are sure everything is gapped correctly? Have you checked the dwell and timing? This may seem like pretty obvious stuff to you already. I was warned to check everything out over and over each time I made even a small adjustment or I would burn out some points quick. I have also noticed that if you have made any mods at all to your engine then the settings need to be slightly different. Some of the more experienced guys might have a better solution. Just my thoughts.
maverick1970 hit it---the resisitor wire sounds like it is bad. Get an aftermarket resisitor from the parts store and install it inline before the hot wire goes to the coil. Too many volts going to the points will fry them quick....
Never turned the radio on without the car already running. Resistor wire? My mechanic put in what he called a "resistor coil". I don't know one coil from another. Sounds like I have a bad wire connected to the coil? I will tell him this when I talk to him Monday and see if he can test the voltage coming off this wire. Gots to get this car running good so I can pass emissions testing this month! Thanks for you help guys!
normally i would agree with jamie, but i would have to say you will want to find out what is shorting or frying the points first. if you have something zapping points it will probably zap your module also. let us know if the voltage is right from the hot wire to the coil.
Follow Up Just a follow up on my burnt out points problem. My mechanic finally made it out today and sure enough the points were burnt. He had put on the resistor coil purchased at NAPA so I thought that would have kept the voltage from going to high last time. At any rate we tested the resistor coil and it read 11.3 volts with the key in the on position. We replaced that coil with another resistor coil from NAPA and got a inline resistor put on and replaced the points and the car is running well again. The new coil reads the same 11.3 volts and with the resistor on it lowers the output to 11.0 volts with the key in the on position (still to high?). I hope having both a resistor coil and a inline resistor is going to keep the volts from going too high again and burning out the points!
You have to test the voltage to the coil while it is running. When you just turn the ignition on you are not pulsing the current through the coil - itis just on, with the points open you would read battery volts and with the points closed you should get slightly less than battery volts checking on the coil + and 0 on the Coil - When it is running it should read about 6 - 8 volts.
Yeah it might be the condenser, but you don't need to change it every time you change the points. They don't go out over time, they either work or they don't.
