I can't find it in online parts catalogues, or at local parts stores. It looks like a condenser or a capacitor. What is its function? Do they ever need replacing?

The part I am referring to is the small silver cylinder attached to the coil bracket, who's blue wire plugs into the positive side of the ignition coil.

Credit for the photo goes to another member of this forum.

Edited January 8, 200916 yr by Matches

Yes, it's a capacitor but I think the common term is condensor. A Google search found this nice explanation:

http://www.austin7club.org/Ignition%20Condensors.htm

I'd always thought that the condensor was to improve AM radio interference but it looks like protecting the points is a more important use.

Yes, that item is to protect the points from the arcing when the back EMF is generated.

A similar component should be fitted at the Alternator output which is a radio suppression capacitor.

That is the fella that suppresses the noise from the alternator from interfering with the radio reception:)

Great, so it should have no bearing whatsoever on how my engine runs then right? I have the condenser at the distributor in place.

It's probably better to put in a new one. They also slow "Spikes" in the system, which we all know Can hurt our old Z's compoments. Even some new alternators come with them already installed.

Dave.

Cool thanks. So the same condenser for the distributor will function the same as the one for the coil? The connectors are different. Plus, the one on the coil has a mount for the large screw that holds down the coil bracket. Very different from the small machine screw on the distributor.