Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 21:00:28 -0700
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Metal can around distributor cap...do you need it?
In-Reply-To: <1333677436.3634.YahooMailClassic@web83601.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
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Richard -
The metal cans on both my 84's disappeared ages ago (PO's). Like
Dennis says, run the 03214 distributor cap. I upgraded to that cap
(and the 2.1 wires) over a decade ago without any problems on the
Westy and few years ago after buying the GL. Works just fine for me.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing From March 1999 To January 2012
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
Find me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
***********************************
On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Was searching around and saw that GoWesty offers the conductive plastic Bosch 03-214 cap:
>
> 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
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing From March 1999 To January 2012
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
Find me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
***********************************
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