What affect would the pics inside have on performance?

Methodical

15 Year Member

Dec 1, 2003

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Clinton, MD

Aug 27, 2008

#1

• Aug 27, 2008

• #1

What affect does corrosion on the contacts inside of the distributor cap have on performance? (see green corrosion in pics). Can I use dialectric grease to prevent future corrosion? By the way this is an Accel dist. cap.

Thanks for any help.

 

desertcox05

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Oct 3, 2007

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south atlanta

Aug 27, 2008

#2

• Aug 27, 2008

• #2

i don't think it's really corrosion. it's more like arching from the rotor to cap. i don't think a dialectric grease would help either since it would get burned off but if the car sits for a long period the grease may help. is this something new or does this happen with all brands of caps and rotors you've tried.

 

Methodical

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#3

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I just happened to notice it when I was working on the car trying to figure out the cause of my slight misfire. Never paid any attention before in the past though.

 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Aug 27, 2008

#4

• Aug 27, 2008

• #4

Just clean the contacts methodically with some fine sandpaper and see if that helps.

 

fastgtfairlane

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Aug 27, 2008

#5

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actually dont clean the contacts its time for a new cap and rotor. cleaning the contacts could make it worse

 

Yobi1Kanobi

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Aug 27, 2008

#6

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ive seen worse

 

Methodical

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Aug 28, 2008

#7

• Aug 28, 2008

• #7

Yeah. I purchased a new cap but just wanted to know the affects.

Thanks all

 

Methodical

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Aug 28, 2008

#8

• Aug 28, 2008

• #8

yobi1kanobi said:

ive seen worse

Click to expand...

What affect did it have on performance?

 

fastgtfairlane

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#9

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• #9

did the cap and rotor solve your problem

 

Methodical

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Aug 28, 2008

#10

• Aug 28, 2008

• #10

fastgtfairlane said:

did the cap and rotor solve your problem

Click to expand...

Yes it did. I was having a slight mis and checked wires, plugs, fuel pressure and when I was on MSD tech sight I saw a post where a guy mentioned this. I remembered seeing this corrosion on mine. So far so good. Hopefully it's nothing else but so far so good.

 

Yobi1Kanobi

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#11

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iT ran like shat

 

toyman

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Aug 28, 2008

#12

• Aug 28, 2008

• #12

Methodical said:

Yes it did. I was having a slight mis and checked wires, plugs, fuel pressure and when I was on MSD tech sight I saw a post where a guy mentioned this. I remembered seeing this corrosion on mine. So far so good. Hopefully it's nothing else but so far so good.

Click to expand...

There was a thread recently where the OP discovered that the wrong rotor was installed. Car ran but not well due to the excessive arcing within the cap. You might just confirm that that isn't the case here as well.

 

Methodical

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Aug 29, 2008

#13

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toyman said:

There was a thread recently where the OP discovered that the wrong rotor was installed. Car ran but not well due to the excessive arcing within the cap. You might just confirm that that isn't the case here as well.

Click to expand...

Yeah, it was the correct cap. I checked the part number on Summits site and Accels to be sure. Plust it was on the car for a minute and the problem began earlier this year but I hadn't driven the car for awhile and it seemed like it had gotten worse.

 

toyman

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#14

• Aug 29, 2008

• #14

Methodical said:

Yeah, it was the correct cap. I checked the part number on Summits site and Accels to be sure. Plust it was on the car for a minute and the problem began earlier this year but I hadn't driven the car for awhile and it seemed like it had gotten worse.

Click to expand...

I was referring to the rotor not the cap. The OP I was talking about discovered that the installed rotor was about 1/2" shorter than the correct one and as a result there was excessive arcing between the rotor tip and the cap contact.

 

Methodical

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Aug 30, 2008

#15

• Aug 30, 2008

• #15

toyman said:

I was referring to the rotor not the cap. The OP I was talking about discovered that the installed rotor was about 1/2" shorter than the correct one and as a result there was excessive arcing between the rotor tip and the cap contact.

Click to expand...

Yeah I missed that. The rotor comes/came with the cap inside the box - at least the ones I purchased - so I will have to think it's the correct one. I never just buy a rotor I always get the kit - dist. cap and rotor.

 

toyman

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Aug 30, 2008

#16

• Aug 30, 2008

• #16

Methodical said:

Yeah I missed that. The rotor comes/came with the cap inside the box - at least the ones I purchased - so I will have to think it's the correct one. I never just buy a rotor I always get the kit - dist. cap and rotor.

Click to expand...

Okay. I've always bought mine separately (two boxes).