16V 2.0 ABF Distributor cap

Mine decided to self destruct tonight on the way home…….Im not sure what part I need to replace it with?

Anyone help with an ECP part no?

This is what it looks like (obviously to the right of the engine)

I think the problem is that when the engine rocks, the cap hits the brake servo and results in cracking it!

I believe that some guys run a Hyundai cap instead….any thoughts?

The engine bay pic - that's NOT an ABF dizzy cap. Looks like the KR/9A one. Mine is exactly the same, its tight but it fits, and my engine doesn't rock about due to uprated mounts.

Hi. thanks…..Im new to these engines.

Obviously I need a new distributor cap, what should I be asking for?

Thanks

Well I'd normally say the same replacement, but if its hitting something in the engine bay and shattering…….I guess I could say sort out your engine mounts too, but then thats more and more £££.

The one everyone says is the ABF cap but I personally don't like it, you need to chip off bits of it to make it fit and even then its a bit of a bodge rather than just clipping on.

Apparently there is a Peugeot 205 cap which is a nice fit and angled connectors, but I think there's an issue where the connection style is different so you'd need different ignition leads (or new ends on them).

The Hyundai one is interesting, if it clips on, has the connectors at an angle (obviously) and takes the same leads, it would be spot on! But more info needed, eg I bet there's more than 1 Hyundai dizzy cap etc.

paul_c said

Well I'd normally say the same replacement, but if its hitting something in the engine bay and shattering…….I guess I could say sort out your engine mounts too, but then thats more and more £££.

The one everyone says is the ABF cap but I personally don't like it, you need to chip off bits of it to make it fit and even then its a bit of a bodge rather than just clipping on.

Apparently there is a Peugeot 205 cap which is a nice fit and angled connectors, but I think there's an issue where the connection style is different so you'd need different ignition leads (or new ends on them).

The Hyundai one is interesting, if it clips on, has the connectors at an angle (obviously) and takes the same leads, it would be spot on! But more info needed, eg I bet there's more than 1 Hyundai dizzy cap etc.

Thanks,

Yeah, ive just been reading up about the ABF cap and the mods, and you are right it looks a right bodge.

Some people reckon that theres a Saab one that will do the job too…….is it just a case of what will fit on and have the correct ends to fit the leads? or is there more voodoo to a dizzy cap than that?

Personally I like to keep things simple, hence my car has the standard (for its engine) dizzy cap. If its rocking enough to hit the brake component, then I'd be looking at the engine mounts too, because the exhaust can't be too healthy under there, and you'll have issues with wheelspin too.

You are right!
ill have a look at the engine mounts too….It doesnt really suffer from wheelspin to be honest, and the exhaust hasnt suffered (yet!)

Thanks for your assistance

the best solution in my book is the abf cap, because its cheap and easy to get plus the std leads fit.

But when I came to do this on my cabby I had a brainwave! rather than chipping bits off the abf cap like everyone said at the time, instead just rotate the dizzy 180 degrees. that way the abf cap faces forward and fits right on with no modifications.

then you fit your leads on 180degrees out if that makes any sense, as long as the position is close enough to run you can adjust it perfectly with a timing light.

you may have to change the king lead for an 8v one as sometimes the 16v lead is a bit too short. this is what i did on my kr engined cabby and it ran perfect, plus tons of room around the brake cylinder/reservoir. plus you can mount the reservoir the right way round with my way, so you can see the level properly:

Wow!

That looks just the ticket, thankyou and thanks for the pic too.

Someone mentioned a Talbot Samba one goes straight on too, but I would imagine the leads wont fit without modification.

Talbot Samba = Peugeot 205, basically.

Wow!

That looks just the ticket, thankyou and thanks for the pic too.

Someone mentioned a Talbot Samba one goes straight on too, but I would imagine the leads wont fit without modification.

i think the audi 16v cap is a direct fit but angled like an abf cap, from one of the k-jet ones 6a/ace engine. trouble is they aint cheap. bloody £60 quid for a cap, what is it made of gold ffs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Distributor-Cap-Audi-90-Quattro-2-0i-16v-08-89-07-90-/190512976749

Bloody eck!

Saab 9-3  cap fits straight on

just had a look, they're around £10 and not the same lead fitting so you would need to make custom leads up as well. unless the saab 9-3 leads fit the vw 16v head properly, looking at them they dont look like they would be a great fit to me

I have the 9-3 cap on mine with kr 16v leads with no mods.
Although the coil connection has a different fitting, which should be a simple fix.

its not ideal though as the fitting for the leads isnt right. compare the saab cap to a kr/abf cap and you'll see what i mean! the kr/abf cap has pins inside the lead holes, saab does not. this means you wont have a proper connection for them.

the coil is the same if you use an early type coil on the kr/abf leads, so fit a mk2 golf one with the correct pin fitting.

saab dizzy, note no pins so poor lead connection:


bit of a blury pic but you can see the pins i mean: