Has any body ever had any trouble with their Pertronix element. I've got a 6 volt pos ground had a shop put it in. It's been three months of worry free driving as everyone has said. Well I let the car set for two weeks because most activities have slowed down. I went out to start the car and NOTHING.. Checked voltage to the coil ( new coil) good. Disconnected coil wire and laid it on valve cover, turned car over, NO spark from coil. That's where I'm at. Just like to start car so I can put on jack stands for winter sleep....
I've been using them for many years. Never had a problem of any kind. Mind you I didn't even know you could use them in a 6V pos ground application......
Not since I threw it against the wall and got a MSD billet distributor and ignition. I had the same problem to the point I could not depend on it. I traded that Petronix POS away.
I hear a lot of controversy about this brand. Just sounds like something that might be presented to me by a 'barker' at a SEMA Midway... "Hurry, hurry, hurry..." -'and your point is??' Hmmm... Jus' Mallory.
Pertronix don't like stray voltages, so there is that issue. Avoid those, and follow their other recommendations and they're fine. If you want bulletproof AND want to retain your OEM distributor, use a Pertronix as the 'trigger' and use a MSD 6A box....
There's a tec line on there web sight. Call it and talk direct to them, you'll be glad you did. They take good care of there customers. Barking about it to people that can't do anything about it is just making noise. The Wizzard
From what I have heard, you must use their coil if you want it to last. I have had one on my 52 Willys CJ3A for about 10 years with no problems.
I have mine for about a year and no problems. And im in winter sleep with bat disconected. But as post #2 said 6v im not sure about that.
Just a coil that falls within their resistance guidelines. I used a MSD blaster for years with no problems.
I have installed many many in the forklift business with very few failures, ever. I have one in my avatar now 5 years with no issues. I did use the matching pertronix coil though.
I have installed literally hundreds. Only one failure in that data set, and that was my fault. I know others who have had failures. I was able to trace each and every one to something that THEY did wrong.
I had one fail this year in my Avitar which has a Pertronix distributor. Probably 8 years of limited use in two different cars. Very strange failure mode in that the truck ran poorly below 2K RPM for a few weeks making me think I had a fuel problem. It finally quit all together and I was able to determine the module was the problem. Failures I have heard of were always sudden without warning. There was plenty of heat sink grease on the module so not sure what went wrong.
The original Per-Lux Ignitor (now referred to as the Petronix) was originally designed for fork lifts and stationary engines set up to run 24/7.
I had a Pertronix ignition that worked fine for about a year, then stopped dead without any warning and left me stranded. I had similar problems with another brand of aftermarket electronic ignition, though it gave me some warning before it failed altogether. I've gone back to points. I've never been left dead along the road by points. Neither of the electronic ignitions I used provided any noticeable improvement over points.
A number of year's ago I added a Pertronix system to the 401 Nailhead in my '61 Invicta. Wouldn't work. Tried everything to get it straightened out...just no luck at all. Called the company, they were great, said "send it back". I did and went back to points, but kept the Pertronix coil. It cranked over perfectly after a new set of points was put in...was fine after that. Others I know have installed 'em and they've worked fine, so I can't give them a bad rap just for my problem. It's a case-by-case situation. Good luck in any event ! Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net
I agree that the original points systems on cars works just fine, other than having to check gap and clean them every few years. Well, Fords are a pain in that the breaker plate squirms around as you are tightening the locking screws, changing the gap. Delco points are a great design for adjustment. To dress points I use 400 grit emery paper and clean after with strong paper wet with carb cleaner or other clean solvent. Point files don't seem to work for me, they are always too soft.
I have pertronix in four of my cars with matching coils, even one with 6v pos earth. Only fault i ever had was a no start traced fault to small metal fragment on pick up magnet. cleaned it off and all was good. pertronix website has fault finding info. shows you how to test parts for faults.
can I pull that thing that snaps over the distributor cam? and re reinstall the points? It ran real good but I thought peace of mind with the pertronix..
We have a 30 month warranty on the Ignitor. Just call our tech line (909) 547-9058 and they will handle the return, testing, and exchange if it is bad. If you need help with that, PM me and I will help you out. I work for PerTronix (not in the Ignition dept, but I have a fair amount of pull). Don
"They take good care of their customers." They took great care of me twice after I was stranded. Had one in my 354" Chrysler-powered 54 Plymouth. Took the whole unit back to the "factory". First it tested with nothing wrong, but they still replaced it. The second time they said one test machine said it was good, the other said it was not. They replaced it again. I wondered if they might think of testing their test machines. Neither time was I allowed to observe the testing. The third time it failed, again out of the blue, I threw it away.
Hey Don, while your on here, on the Ignitor 2 will resistor plugs with solid core wires work or must resistor wires be used?
Years ago a Mallory Unilite left me stranded on the side of the road and a couple of years ago a Pertronix did the same. Consequently, I went back to good old points/condenser & coil...no more embarr***ing road side rescues.
I have not had a vehicle with points since 1987, and everything I have, with an ignition, is vintage. Never stranded.
Called Summit racing got my receipt copy and I'm sending off the unit Monday to Pertronix.. They will test it but they said they will give me a whole new kit.
One thing points and Pertronix have in common is you should always carry a spare set in the glovebox.
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