2006-06-23 12:28:01 · 9 answers · asked by bs 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The points are a pair of contacts mounted in the base of the distributor of an older engine. One contact is rigidly mounted and the other is on an arm which pivots against a small flat spring to keep the contacts closed. On the distributor shaft, a cam is mounted to rotate with the shaft. As the shaft turns, the cam opens the breaker points to interrupt the current. When the points are close,current flows to the coil and causes a strong magnetic field. When the points open, this field collapses and causes the high voltage in the secondary windings in the coil to make the very high voltage needed to cause the spark to jump the gap in the plugs.
2006-06-23 12:48:18 · answer #1 · answered by webman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Points are two the contact points that are adjustable by a screw. They are seperated by a cam on the distributor shaft turned by the mechanical actions of the engine. The points function with a condenser. Both wear out over time. Changing the P&C means resetting the gap (thousandths of inches) between the 'points' of contact. Use a feeler guage as the screw is turned.
2006-06-23 20:07:05 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you take off your distributor cap, and look down inside it, you will see 4 to 8 little square pieces of metal close to where each plug wire connects, those are the points, there is an oblong shaped thing sitting on top of the distrubtor, that spins in circles, when the engine is running, that hits each of those little pieces of metal, causing spark to go to the sparkplugs,
2006-06-23 19:34:34 · answer #3 · answered by dahorndogd013 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
POINTS ARE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR. THE ROUND THING WITH ALL THE SPARK PLUG WIRES GOING TO IT. UNDER THAT CAP YOU WILL FIND A SPRINGED MECHANISM WITH A FLAT POINT WHEN THE ENGINE TURNS IT TURNS THIS DISTRIBUTOR WHICH TURNS THE POINTS WHICH CREATE A SPARK. HOPE THIS HELPS.. WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEMS WITH POINTS IT WILL CAUSE YOUR ENGINE TO RUN ERRATIC AND MISS
2006-06-23 19:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by GHETTOYUPPIE 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only on older engines. They have voltage applied and they are pushed apart and drop back together to create a spark (pulse) that is sent to the coil and then distributor...finally the spark plugs.
2006-06-23 19:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't the points refer to the engine mounting points?
2006-06-23 19:36:22 · answer #6 · answered by Kevin T 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What they said except for KevinT. New cars over the past I think it 10-12 years don't have points (and condenser), they are all computer controlled for emission standards.
2006-06-23 19:40:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are under the disturber cap,the disturber cap is what the wires come out of and go to the plugs. new cars don`t have points, they have electric ignitions..
2006-06-23 19:35:06 · answer #8 · answered by alleykhad607 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
webman, damn good! In fact the best!! Hey, would you call a Ruda master diesel inj. pump a hyd. dist.?
2006-06-23 21:04:05 · answer #9 · answered by Billy TK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋