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MG MGA - Smoking rotor cap

I was changing out my rotor cap with a new one,while waiting for the new one to arrive I sprayed down the distributer with wd40 to clean it. Next day the new one arrived. I reinstalled existing wires, put new rotor in, and went to start. Would not start and soon I smelled that dreaded wire burning smell! Cut the power and ran up front only to find the wires to the coil really hot and smoke coming from my distributer. I have the pertronix Ignitor Electronic Ignition so I am confused as to why it would be grounded out since there is no moving parts.
WMR Bill

Could you have trapped the wires that go to the electronic unit when you replaced the cap? If the wire entry cut-out on you new distributor cap is a different shape or size, it may have pushed the wires into contact with earth somehow.
Lindsay Sampford

I think Lindsay has the answer, as the wires are very soft and easily damaged. I was installing a Pertronix on my MGB and got a Pertronix wire pinched in there somewhere, I forget where now, and when I went to start the car the dome light dimmed severely as soon as the ignition switch got to the "on" position, which I do to let the fuel pump build pressure, before even running the starter. I turned it off right away, and in that short time the coil was very HOT! I was worried that the pertronix was damaged, so I pulled it and put the points back in and all was well. The coil was not ruined, but it couldn't have done it any good.

Ralph
Ralph

A wire pertronix wire got pinched under Diane's distributor cap and it destroyed the white ignition wire from the switch to the coil, including the section through the tachometer. The Pertronix wires should be tied inside the distributor with a small tie wrap, if possible, to prevent knicking the wires and shorting to ground (the points plate). Hope your damage isn't too severe.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Fuses are cheap!

FRM
FR Millmore

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2011 and 21/07/2011

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