Condenser failed.....................again

[RossL]

I was chasing a bad running issue all weekend.............. Turned out to be the condenser that I replaced a couple of months ago. Maybe had 100 miles on it, so it was the last thing I suspected.

The one that just failed was from Advanced Auto parts, made in Tawain.

Are there any good sources for these?

Standard Auto parts has two listed FD-75 and FD-75T.............the parts with a "T" are their economy parts so I ordered FD-75

[ward 57]

I would try NAPA. I've always had good results with their products. They understand old cars. I don't even know how to test a condenser. I had a case of a failing resistor that took me months to trace down after replacing everything else in the ignition system.

[MarkR]

It’s just getting worse.

[RossL]

I would try NAPA. I've always had good results with their products. They understand old cars. I don't even know how to test a condenser. I had a case of a failing resistor that took me months to trace down after replacing everything else in the ignition system.

Here is a good explanation on how to test. I usually just swap them out with a new one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9yOGdSrHqs

[paul2748]

I got sick and tired from the lousy ignition parts and went to electronic. Pertronix. So far so good. Had the car out today and it ran great.

[RossL]

I got sick and tired from the lousy ignition parts and went to electronic. Pertronix. So far so good. Had the car out today and it ran great.

Pertronix scares me. I've had a module and coil fail, two different cars (One I converted back to points it ran just as well, the other didn't have provisions for points so I kept and extra module in the trunk) ....... If decent ignition parts get harder to find it might be the only solution.

[MarkR]

I got sick and tired from the lousy ignition parts and went to electronic. Pertronix. So far so good. Had the car out today and it ran great.

Same here. Pertronix in two birds 57, 55. 4 years on the 57, sold it. 20 years on the 55 going strong and running smooth as a babies butt. Just my experience with it so far. I keep an extra set up in the trunk parts bag.

[ward 57]

Seems those things have a higher failure rate than points & condenser. Cheaper to fix also.

[BJRVentport2]

Just find NOS condensers at swap meets or on eBay. The new ones are crap.

[55blacktie]

What kind of condition would a 67-69-year-old NOS condenser be in?

[paul2748]

If you can find good replacement parts which is getting harder and harder Pertronix's have a pretty good rep. Like points and condensers, nothing lasts forever.

Seems those things have a higher failure rate than points & condenser. Cheaper to fix also.

[DynoDan’55]

Not sure if they deteriorate with age, like other electrolytics (?). I bought a grab bag of NOS condensers years ago, tested them all with a multi-meter, and selected the one with the closest OEM spec. Been running fine ever since (over 15 yrs./50K miles).

[ICON 1956]

Store extra condensers in a temp control, The biggest mistake is keeping in the garage with temps fluctuate. Moisture is a killer when it comes to electronics.....