Ignition Wiring

[2cams70]

I tried a Petronix and before that some other pointless ignition that I have mercifully forgotten. Both wound up with my car being towed to a repair shop and conventional points installed. It's my understanding that pointless conversions are generally good, but not my experience.

At 1000-1500 miles a year, I can get the points adjusted hardly ever and have no concerns.

You said it better than I ever could!

[Andy8421]

I tried a Petronix and before that some other pointless ignition that I have mercifully forgotten. Both wound up with my car being towed to a repair shop and conventional points installed. It's my understanding that pointless conversions are generally good, but not my experience.

At 1000-1500 miles a year, I can get the points adjusted hardly ever and have no concerns.

You said it better than I ever could!

Well yes, and no.

Back in the bad old days when my garden machinery had points, the first job of the season was to whip the flywheels off and clean the points - as they had corroded up through the winter through lack of use and wouldn't start. These days, with electronic ignition in everything, first or second pull of the handle gets them started. The same is true for cars, use them regularly and you can get away with points (subject to the wear issues), lay them up over the winter (particularly if you garage is a bit damp and you are unlucky enough to have the points open when the engine stops) and you will be cleaning the points before the car will start.

OEM electronic ignition systems do 100s of 1000s of miles, there is no reason why a well designed, built and installed electronic ignition should do any less on an Elan.

[TBG]

"OEM electronic ignition systems do 100s of 1000s of miles, there is no reason why a well designed, built and installed electronic ignition should do any less on an Elan"

Quite so Andy. D

[2cams70]

lay them up over the winter (particularly if you garage is a bit damp and you are unlucky enough to have the points open when the engine stops) and you will be cleaning the points before the car will start.

I don't agree with that. It would take considerably more than a year's standing for that to be a problem and if you got got to the stage where there was that level of corrosion on the surface of the points the entire car not just the points would certainly be looking very second hand!

OEM electronic ignition systems do 100s of 1000s of miles, there is no reason why a well designed, built and installed electronic ignition should do any less on an Elan.

I do agree with that but the key word is OEM. Most aftermarket solutions just aren't at an OEM level and how many Elan's these days do 100s of 1000s of miles?

[TBG]

"and how many Elan's these days do 100s of 1000s of miles?"

Mine!!BD

[yacalo]

Quick update - as Eric recommended, I applied a thin (although uneven..) smear of heat conducting paste..

Engine runs, doesn't run as smoothly as I'd hoped - definitely a little rich too, so will need to adjust the carbs.
It does seem to misfire occasionally, particularly during warm up - but it's hard to tell if that is related. Time will tell I guess.

Next weekend I will attempt a longer drive, but will definitely have plenty of battery in my phone in case I need a tow..

[yacalo]

Thought I'd post an update - the thermal compound applied to the ignitor module appears to have solved the issue completely. No more misfiring, and the module which is still the petronix module found in the distributor hasn't cooked either (this is my third). If you are interested here is the compound I bought:

" ARCTIC MX-4 (incl. Spatula, 8 g) - Premium Performance Thermal Paste for All Processors (CPU, GPU - PC, PS4, Xbox), Very high Thermal Conductivity, Long Durability, Safe Application, Non-Conductive. "

Below is an image of the poorly applied paste almost 3 months ago