TheSamba.com :: View topic - Clear distributor cap questions..opinions

Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:51 am

Hi all. I noticed the negative opinions on here regarding the clear type caps whenever it is brought up but I havent really read the reasons why. I heard that they tend to break easier on the tabs, that type of plastic isnt as durable as the maybe solid color types or the old brown caps, I assume. But as far as electrical properties, just by looking at them, im guessing all the balls behind these things are in the post that the plug wires connect to. Maybe that material isnt as good as a conductor as the non clear types or not long enough to connect with the rotor?. What is the reason aside from the plastic breaking easier that makes them so undesireable? And Yes I have one on mine, but I also have a back up for when clear blue one breaks. Just wondering.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:58 am

They arc, they are not as well made.

When was the last time you saw a car with a factory clear cap?

Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:59 am

Me, I'd just rather stick with OEM quality Bosch or other German-made tune up parts. I saw way too much aftermarket junk when I was a mechanic and I have much more faith in Bosch parts. Before I knew any better when I was much younger, I thought it'd be cool to have one and see what it looked like in there in the dark. Then I saw one, and was underwhelmed. That's a bit of bling that I don't need.
-Andy

Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:10 am

When I drag raced, I used one to set up my distributor. I could see the rotor with a timing light to phase in the terminals (locked distributor running a crank trigger). After phasing complete, I switched back to a OEM bake-o-light style cap for the reasons Glenn stated.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:16 am

i have a clear blue one on mine. haven't noticed any difference in quality/performance. but i do keep a bosch in the car for obvious reasons.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:16 am

I actually watched one arc out to the fuel pump on a car.... that's not a good way to keep your VW alive. Keep the clear caps for trailer queens.... use the good Bosch caps for a car that is actually driven. -- Tuna

Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:29 am

You can tell people all day that the caps are junk and why, but it's like leading a horse to water. They'll just shrug, use them, and then later you get to hear their new song about how they suck, or you get to hear the old "I been using one for years" from the lucky ones.

They're junk. They're made to look cool. They're not made to perform.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:19 pm

This topic again? :roll:

Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:36 pm

miniman82 wrote: This topic again? :roll:

Yup, and were due for a "how much hp do I have", and "do these electric turbos work".

Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:16 pm

Bashr52 wrote: miniman82 wrote: This topic again? :roll:

Yup, and were due for a "how much hp do I have", and "do these electric turbos work".

You don't need an electric turbo- if you want to go fast, a Honduh guy told me you need THIS! Said it added 25 hp to his Civic.:lol:

Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:40 pm

miniman82 wrote: Bashr52 wrote: miniman82 wrote: This topic again? :roll:

Yup, and were due for a "how much hp do I have", and "do these electric turbos work".

You don't need an electric turbo- if you want to go fast, a Honduh guy told me you need THIS! Said it added 25 hp to his Civic.:lol:

That must be what Dodge put up the exhaust pipe on my diesel dualie. :lol:

Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:42 pm

Guys... let's stay on topic.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:48 pm

bon2198 wrote: i have a clear blue one on mine. haven't noticed any difference in quality/performance. but i do keep a bosch in the car for obvious reasons.

Good call. I had one "back in the day" and never had any problems. Have heard of many having problems though.
Knowledge speaks. Wisdom listens.

Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:40 pm

The problem with the plastic caps is they carbon track. It takes a while, but after time you will start mis-firing because of it.

When new, they work the same as a Bosch cap. Just have to change it more often since the bakelite or whatever material the Bosch caps are made from do not carbon track as badly.

Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:30 am

Thanks for the information guys on the arcing. That I had not read on here before. I appreaciate the explanations for sure. Even the inevitable slams about HP , trailer queens and hyper blue blinker fluid :roll:

Thanks again for the info guys :D

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:32 pm

Back in the day (the '80's) I ran a red see-through cap on my Cal-Look Bug. Worked great, no problems, no "carbon tracking", no arcing. Over time, it faded to orange and needed to be replaced as any normal cap would be replaced from age.

I bought a blue cap. The blue one was a piece of junk. The wires would not stay attached to it. All of the wire connections were too big and the wires had nothing to grip to. I used real Bosch caps from then on.

That being said, I purchased a clear cap a week ago. I bought it only to be able to see if my vacuum advance is working smoothly. I have not tried it yet. After I check that, the Bosch cap is going back on.

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:47 pm

I figured out these things were junk before the age of 13.... These are right up there with chrome alternator pulleys, dune buggy dual exhausts and stock engines with huge cams...

Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:02 pm

I never understood how a dizzy cap could not work...

Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:11 pm

fusername wrote: I never understood how a dizzy cap could not work...
Use one of these and it'll be clearly illustrated in about 3 months.. Or the first time you drive it in a heavy rain storm!

Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:17 pm

it's tempting to install one just to see how bad it is, that sounds like a good show.