This weekend I tuned my XKE - new spark plugs, points, and condenser. After the replacement (and proper gapping), I could not get the car to run. I concluded that the new condenser must be bad, so I replaced it with the old (new plugs and points, old condenser). The XKE still would not run (cough and wease a little - just enough to kick the starter out). In desperation I went back to the old points as well (new plugs, old points, old condenser). The Cat started right up, and after static timing, runs perfectly.

Can anyone suggest what happened here? Why would a new set of points and condenser not function?

- 62 Roadster

Submitted by mbsansom@hotmail.com on Fri, 10/12/2007 - 00:02

Thanks for a lead on this "true mystery". Although the base plate for the new points was identical to the old, the spring did have a slightly different geometry. 62 Roadster

Submitted by staffel@jcna.com on Mon, 10/08/2007 - 11:29

HAd the EXACT SAME experience (and your sequence)a few years back on a Lotus 907 (in my 4 cyl Jensen GT). Turned out they redesigned the points around the spring and the securing 'nut'. So what was happening is the points grounded before they sent the 'signal'to the coil to fire.

Sherman D Taffel
Columbia,Maryland
72 E V-12 FHC,76XJ12C project, 88 XJS Convert, 96 XJR