http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3114&category_id=&category_parent_id=
But it appears to be for only a 2.1 engine, 1986+. Would it fit a 1.9 engine (distributor) like mine? Probably not, or they wouldn't make the distinction. For whatever reason, my "style" of distributor cap is the kind that has male studs, and my spark plug wires have the female connection to these studs. And I'm still wondering what the "static suppression" features of a can or conductive plastic actually do? I mean, surely they will eliminate or minimize static on the car radio, and from some internet searching read about somebody (not a Vanagon) was actually killed by a car fire where the root cause was a spark jumping from the distributor that did not have the metal can to a carburetor. So maybe that's why it was added....to prevent lawsuits. Of course, carburetor systems have a lot of explosive gas vapor around in the engine compartment whereas fuel injection systems do not. Was VW just playing it safe from a litigation standpoint?
Took my van out for another ride tonight without metal can around distributor; freeway driving this time. Good performance; no static on AM or FM either. (Truth be told, the radio is from a 1993 Honda Civic, not an original Vanagon Blaupunkt radio, so maybe more modern static filters.)
So I'm still a little perplexed as to whether the can is needed or not. Based on the roadtest tonight, I think not. But don't want to come up with a surprise when it's time for Mr. Smog Test here in California. And of course do not damage regarding performance or other components.
Rich
San Diego
--- On Thu, 4/5/12, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Metal can around distributor cap...do you need it?
To: "'Richard Koerner'" <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>, vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 6:21 PM
Upgrade to the later cap such as the Bosch 03-214. The shield is a
conductive plastic. The shield can also be removed and reused at cap
replacement time. This cap uses male posts instead of the hollow barrels for
the wire connections. Most aftermarket wire sets fit both. This shield works
better and does not collect dirt and road salt which can sometimes collect
between the metal shields and wires connections shorting things out when
wet.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Koerner
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 10:24 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Metal can around distributor cap...do you need it?
Every time I take off the distributor cap on my 1985 1.9 L motor (which I
did last night to replace), it's a big hassle for me to deal with that metal
can with the ground strap which press-fits around the distributor cap,
especially when putting things back on. Do you need it? I assume it's some
kind of static-suppression device, but most modern radios have much improved
filtering than their predecessors in the 80's. Any other function of that
can that I am missing, like interference with any of my engine electronics?
I took it off, van ran normally, no static on my radio on AM or FM.
(Oh by the way Scott, I did add a few drops of light oil to the felt pad
under the rotor while I was in there, like I always do after you mentioned
that!)
Rich
San Diego