Pertronix ignition testing

[Polar Bear]

First,
if this is in the wrong section, moderators feel free to move it.


Just in case if anyone else is fighting with the points, adjusting and maintaining them,
here’s what I did:

I’ve been fed up with the ignition points, or the crappy quality spares they sell these days. I’ve been cleaning the points between 500-1000km, and always there’s “spike” or what do you call it… So I searched around the internet, and found out that there’s aftermarket pointless ignition systems available. Of course, none of them seemed to fit Tercels….

I took a chance, and ordered Pertronix ignitor made for Toyota Corolla’s etc, since Corolla’s distributor cap is the same as in my Terc. The manufactor model is 1641.

Installing was pretty straight forward, remove the points and condenser, and istall the new parts.
Couple of things I had to to: I had to file a small corner off the new base plate, took about 30secs. The bottom plate is Aluminium, so it was a peace of cake. I also had to add about 8-10 inches of wire to get the wires to reach the coil easily.


Then to the “fun” part. I cranked the starter, and she almost run . No matter how much I adjusted the timing, as much as it would move, she just wouldn’t run. it was soooo close though…
So, I took and pulled the distributor axle out just enough to change the whole setting ONE teeth counter-clockwise. Fingers crossed I turned the key….. and she fired tight up!!!!! The timing was almost correct already, but I took the time and adjusted to 10 btdc as learned from here. The setting is pretty much on the center now, there’s plenty of adjustement “space” still left to either direction.

vacuum advance hose back to it’s place, and away I go for a test drive. First thing I noticed was the better low rpm power. Definite improvement. But when going faster, or rather over say 3000 rpm’s there’s no significant improvement. Maybe a little, but not so clear as in the lower rpm’s.

So, after 50km’s test drive, I’m really happy with the new system, testing continues….

PB

[Petros]

Good for you! I am surprised they were still selling Toyotas with points and condenser ignitions on them as late as 1984 in your country. We had the more modern ignition, with the coil-in-the-distributor, in North America since the beginning. The best thing to do with those older systems is to replace them with after-market kits to convert to solid state ignition like you did. You should get better fuel economy as well.

The first 4 or 5 cars I owned had the old points ignition, and I was always under the hood readjusting the dwell and timing (as the parts wear these adjustments keep changing). About once a month i had to fiddle with it to keep it running good. The solid state ignition was a big improvement in terms of durability and low maintenance. I drove my Pathfinder for 300k plus miles with out ever touching the distributor (which means i never had to set the timing either), I had to replace one pick-up in our MPV distributor, with over 300k miles on it too. And my Tercel with the solid state ignition has been equally reliable. Owning a timing light is a thing of past for most self-wrenchers now. Progress for the better!

[Polar Bear]

Petros,
it seems that my car is actually made something like in 1982, but it was registered 1984, so the licence-document says its a 1984 model

the Pertronix system is still working just fine, although i'm having some issues when she's running cold... but I think it has nothing to do with this system.

[ARCHINSTL]

Polar Bear -
The plate on the driver side door jam states a date of 1982?
Didn't OZ and NZ cars come with points as well for a time (or the whole run)?
Tom

[Polar Bear]

Polar Bear -
The plate on the driver side door jam states a date of 1982?
Didn't OZ and NZ cars come with points as well for a time (or the whole run)?
Tom

I forgot to check the plate, sorry... I'm 100km:s away from the car at the moment.

[Polar Bear]

Polar Bear -
The plate on the driver side door jam states a date of 1982?
Didn't OZ and NZ cars come with points as well for a time (or the whole run)?
Tom

I forgot to check the plate, sorry... I'm 100km:s away from the car at the moment.

There's no plate there Archinstl.