Unknown device near CD unit!?

[weppnerh]

Hi there:

had planned to install an ignitor unit this past weekend and explored how to hook it up.

I noticed a unit installed on the left side forward from the CD unit and I couldn't tell what function it might have. Has anyone see anything like this before?



In this picture below I assume the Motorola device is an external regulator and was installed in replacement of a stock unit!? Is this perhaps the reason that the condenser on the outside of the Bosch distributor is not connected?



Thanks & cheerio, Harry.

[youngkang]

That looks like a starter solenoid for Ford.

[randywebb]

the dingus in the top pic is an obvious PO add on - look at the crimps on the Fastons...

your 2nd post makes sense to me...

what year car are we talking about?

[weppnerh]

Hi, this is a 1971 911T.

Cheerio, Harry.

[89turbocabmike]

Harry, looks like PO added that Ford-style starter solenoid(there used on lots of domestic vehicles) either because the stock one died or to combat a "hot-start" problem.

The distributor condensor(attached to the points) prevents sparks from potentially jumping(arcing) across the points as contact is broken. (which in turn would lead to pitting and a dramatic reduction in points life). E.g. it 'absorbs' the volts that might otherwise 'jump' across the opening points.
If your distributor has been converted to an electronic Pertronix/hall effect system type system then no condensor would be needed.

[stlrj]

The PO must have been an electrician by the looks of the stake on terminals on the stranded #12 THHN wire.

Joe

[wholberg]

Originally posted by 89turbocabmike
Harry, looks like PO added that Ford-style starter solenoid(there used on lots of domestic vehicles) either because the stock one died or to combat a "hot-start" problem.

I have to agree with the this. The Ford solenoid is the most widely known (and used) part used to fix a hot start problem. The correct, although admittedly more difficult, thing to do would have been to replace the wires to the solenoid with new, bigger guage wires. This would have fixed the problem for a couple of decades.

I guess now you can say you have a "hybrid" vehicle.:-)

[weppnerh]

Originally posted by 89turbocabmike
If your distributor has been converted to an electronic Pertronix/hall effect system type system then no condensor would be needed.

haven't seen any such system but the points are not pitted... weird. could there be a condensor with the external regulator?

Cheerio, Harry.

[Paulporsche]

I don't know, but that small cylindrical thing to the upper left sure looks like a condenser.

[89turbocabmike]

I think that condensor near the regulator maybe to control RF interference/ noise suppression.

[Paulporsche]

Should a 71T have a dist. condenser? My 77S doesn't.

[Early_S_Man]

Harry,

Your '71 911T came with OEM Bosch CDI ... which doesn't use a condenser across the points, since only around 420 mA are being switched through a 33 Ohm pullup resistor inside the CDI unit as a trigger signal ... that condenser hanging off the distributor must have been added by someone unfamiliar with CD ignition!

The Ford solenoid is being used as a 'booster relay' to give a hotter, healthy signal to the starter solenoid ... possible issues with the ignition switch may exist, 14-pin connectors at the relay/regulator/fuse panel, or corrosion inside the starter and solenoid.

[weppnerh]

Hi Warren,

I am beginning to think that the car may have been equipped with a Marelli distributor and retrofitted with a Bosch distributor used in a different vehicle wo/ CDI system...

Thanks Warren and everyone else!

Cheerio, Harry.