The Ford Capri Laser Page

Quick question - is there a specified frequency to change the condenser on a Pinto engine with a Bosch dizzy? I renewed everything else a while back (so points, plugs, dizzy cap, rotor arm and HT leads are all new) left the condenser alone. Is it better to wait until it fails or change as a service part?

I changed one just because I'd changed everything else.
Damn thing failed within a month!
Luckily I'd kept the old one so put that back on.
Never did replace it................

They're an unknown quantity really, can carry on without a problem for years.
I'd suggest getting a new one and sticking it in the glove box just in case the old one fails

Likelihood is they'll bury the unused one with you

Thanks. With everything else I changed out, I kept the old one in the spare wheel well as a spare, so I can do the same.

The Capri has a condenser capacity of .2 to .25 mf , as long as you get the right one capacity wise it can be off a Skoda or the lunar transport vehicle ( they used pinto motors ) , doesn't matter so go with the one you feel is the best quality , maybe a genuine Bosch ( even if you have a motocraft dizzy ) would be better than some of the cheap shit ones , BUT the golden rule is ( specially with finickerty stuff )is " if it aint broke don't fix it

I was always taught to change them with every new set of points

ollyw wrote:I was always taught to change them with every new set of points

yeah , back in the day when you had a reasonable chance of getting a quality product that was the thing to do, but a condenser doesn't wear out so if you have a good un ..... just keep it . Do give some thought to fitting one of the many electronic kits available ( for bugger all ) better starting , economy and reliability

Bug wrote:I changed one just because I'd changed everything else.
Damn thing failed within a month!
Luckily I'd kept the old one so put that back on.

I did that once with a coil. Brand new Intermotor one, just as a matter of course. Car would randomly cut out whilst driving. Original one back on, years later still no problem!

or spend £100 on an Aldon Ignitor Kit from Burton and never worry about points or condensers again. More MPG, better idle and yet it hides inside original dizzy. What's not to like? IMHO of course.

SmokeEm wrote:or spend £100 on an Aldon Ignitor Kit from Burton and never worry about points or condensers again. More MPG, better idle and yet it hides inside original dizzy. What's not to like? IMHO of course.

^ This. So nice to be rid of all that PITA points bullshit!