How Does/can A Distributor Break Down?

[FLYGTI]

Just wondering how or if a distributor can breaks down/ wears out?

If nothing looks broken or worn out how might I go about testing?

Below is my internals, bearing seems fine, it was a little oily which I cleaned up.. not overly bad. I have a new seal kit or possible replacements seals. Just want to know if anything can cook or wear out. I had wrong plugs in which caused (I think) the current problem. I'm replacing Coil, Igniter and thinking of getting Dizzy rebuilt but the later is time consuming and possibly further expense. However I have been informed if its broke it will damage new igniter.

The cap seal was broken (as expected)

[altezzaclub]

The mechanical side is pretty bulletproof, except for wear in the bush and sticking of the weights.

 

Electrically the cap and leads age and lose their insulatio, so you get misfires especially when raining. Those sorts of leaks you can see at night as sparks and plasmas running around the leads.

 

Electronically its a black art.. like any semiconductor the parts can break down, run at a reduced performance or fail completely. That's your ignitor and sensor.

 

What sort of problem does it have?

[FLYGTI]

After 6 months of running the wrong spark plugs I was getting miss-fire under load and over run. Replaced plugs with new irridium/platinum top range and seemed to fix for a while. The idle seemed rough and had a slight bounce or hunt. To the point one morning she struggled to start and smoke came out of the air intake on first attempt. Then would not start at all and half burnt fuel smell+smoke from air intake each attempt. I tested my spark at the plugs and found I had a weak red/orange spark. I have searched high and low for replacement dizzy to no end.

Having purchased a new coil and igniter at some expense I have only been able to find dizzy rebuilders in vic or adilade. being on the gold coast and the car being my daily and already being off the road for 2 weeks (boohoo) I was hoping that the new Dizzy I bought would work..... FAARKIN ebay!

I pulled mine apart and gave it a clean and besides some oil leackage looks in very good condition.

I don't want to ruin my new igniter if its pooped

Could the increased impedence destroy the condensors?

p.s. Forgive my spelling if not correct :)

[altezzaclub]

Having purchased a new coil and igniter at some expense

Those are the only parts that actually DO anything aren't they, the igniter is in two parts- a sensor and a computer? So if you replace those two you have fitted new items that do actual spark production and the rest of it all won't affect it.

 

Mine looks like this, just two black boxes.

[FLYGTI]

Sweet cause I bit the bullet today and had the dizzy cleaned and put back on.. time will tell thanks for the reply!