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This thing broke on my distributor. The black wire goes in and then comes right back out again. Does anyone know what this is and what it does? Can I spice the wires and bypass it?
Other info: Yesterday I restored one I got cheap off ebay (new bearing, seal, and o-ring), so that's in the car now. Seem to run like new, but I have to take a long road trip next week and I was thinking of taking this along - just in case my rehab skills don't cut it. I don't want to fry the car, though. Car: 1998 Nissan Altima. Distro manufactured by Hitachi. First photo shows how it is now after I had my way with it. Second shows how it should look. Thanks everybody.
That looks like a capacitor or condensor, both names mean the same thing here, but I haven't seen one on a car since distributors had points in them. They are real cheap like less than $5 anyway just get the correct one.
It seems like it comes with the distributor itself since I havent seen it listed separate anywhere.
When cars had points inside the distributor you had to have the right condensor on or she would not run. This might be just for knocking down radio noise or whining since I don't think you need it to run these days.
That is a condenser, it's called a noise condenser/suppressor. It is to help minimize radio noise/whining.
The car will run without it, but as I said, you may notice more buzzing/noise from the radio when the engine is running.
It does look like it comes with the distributor, but you might be able to buy that piece separately from the dealer.
It looks as if the wire does a single loop through the device. In which case it would be a an electronic choke; an inductor not a capacitor. You will need the device or at least continuity from one lead to the other, which apparently you no longer have seeing as how the wire is severed. Even though the purpose is to abate high frequency harmonics you will likely still need the connection it provides to and from other components.
Quattrohead is right. The condenser is to prevent arcing across the points, which will cause pitting and corrosion. They were needed before electronic ignitions, when the points had to carry the full current of the coil primary.
How old is that car?
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