Distributor Condenser?

[cam1602]

Are Distributor Condenser’s the same across the models and years? My car is a mix mash of parts and years. The distributor does not have a vacuum advance and was told that it is a TII style. Need to install a new condenser and not sure if it matters which style distributor I have but the local auto parts store can only look up per year and model.

Also, as a debugging tip, my car was running fine for a few minutes and then it just died. I let is sit for a while and it started right up and as soon as it got warm again, it would die. Chased lots of options over the weekend and finally changed out the condenser with a generic part. Car runs great now. Now I'm just trying to get the correct parts installed.

TIA

[jon]

I have the tii distributor in a '76. I usually call someone like Maximillian or Zygmunt to get the right part. If you can't find the right part number, I will go to my files and see what I have ordered.

[quinnfiske]

Acording to the Bavarian Autosport catalog, there are three syles:

1969-1972 002 distributor

1973,74 and tii ID48X distributor reverse style

1975,76 320i thru 1979 008 distributor

Good luck

[Guest Anonymous]

Although I have not had to purchase condensers for many years (using electronic ignition), I am pretty certain that there are several variations. In fact, there was a time when you might choose a condenser much like a spark plug and coil - depending upon the wear exhibited on the points.

Given your situation, I would be inclined to look at the points and if the wear patterns were acceptable, I would seek replacement with same part number. Given the condenser's function, I do not think the variations (even if you took a condenser from a 6 cyl model) is that critical, although I would be prepared to examine and if necessary dress and reset you points more often than usual!

[cam1602]

To fill in on the story a little, I was at the track (Texas World Speedway) trying our my new/old Lemons BMW when the condenser failed. I ended up sodering in a lawn mower conderser just to get it running. And it ran great! In the instructors run group, I was able to keep up with a Z4 and Boxter. My lap times were not too far off my Spec Miata race times.

[TobyB]

Then you're just not flogging that miata hard enough!

heh.

t

[jgerock]

Go to www.boschautoparts.com and use their search tool for looking up parts for your car. I've attached the one for ignition parts on my tii as a reference.

BOSCHAUTOPARTS.pdf

[quinnfiske]

I think the difference in condensors is in the mounting rather than the capacitance. They are capacitors after all and the ignitions systems of all the models are pretty similar, so the capacitance should be about the same.

My old roundy (1968) had a condenser that mounted to the outside of the distributor. My square light (1975) had one that mounted through a square hole in the distributor. the tii's might have a third variation.

[napa02]

you should have said something earlier, I would have given you the the one I have. It came with the same dist. as the rev-limiting rotor:)