Contact Breaker Check

Check the contact-breaker points before you buy an older car with a distributor. Ask the seller to show the correct equipment while parked, using the instructions for this vehicle.

I reviewed How a Car Works contact-breaker guide for this November 6, 2026 checklist. The example helps identify the relevant instruction, but your vehicle manual and accessory documentation control the actual fit and procedure. So, keep the inspection within a safe stationary demonstration and stop when damage or an uncertain part makes further testing inappropriate.

Know what the points do on an older car

Check the contact-breaker points before you buy an older car with a distributor. The How a Car Works guide cited here says the setting is often neglected but vital to good running, and suggests replacing the points after 6,000 miles or 10,000 km, or twice a year. Ask when they were last changed.

Listen for the symptoms of worn points

The cited guide says current through the contacts burns one face and builds a peak on the other, while the heel wears so the points cannot open fully, until they stay closed and the car will not run. On the drive, note misfires, poor starting or rough running.

Ask about the condenser and timing

The guide says points burn away faster if the condenser is faulty. Ask whether the condenser was changed with the points and whether the gap and timing were set to the figures in the handbook. Ask the inspector to check the dwell or gap and record it.

Ask whether the car has been converted

Some older cars have had the points replaced with an electronic ignition kit. Ask whether this car has, who fitted it and whether spare points and a condenser come with the sale. Keep the parts and receipts with the purchase file.

Put the missing item in the purchase agreement

Write down the contact breaker condition, the pieces missing and the supplier identification you still need. Ask whether the seller will provide the correct replacement or agree a price adjustment for you to obtain it. Keep any promised correction in the purchase agreement with a clear description of what must be supplied. A generic online price cannot establish that mounting parts or the correct fit are included, so ask the supplier for a current quote.

Keep the accessory check inside a wider inspection

The condition of one accessory cannot establish the state of the whole vehicle. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps specify the work an independent shop will undertake. NYC used-car guidance recommends that independent examination. Ask the inspector to record related damage and explain inaccessible areas. Look, a fake PDF or a polished seller checklist can conceal an unresolved problem.

Separate history records from equipment present today

A report may contain reported events without listing every accessory that has been lost or replaced. Our VIN verification guide helps match the car to its documents; our tire-replacement reporting guide shows the gap between records and current equipment. NMVTIS concerns U.S. title history rather than certifying this item. Keep condition and documents as separate findings.

Note who supplied the current item

Ask whether the contact breaker is the original part or a later replacement, and who supplied it. A dealer invoice or parts receipt helps confirm the right fit. If the seller bought a generic version online, check it against the instructions for this vehicle before relying on it. Record the part number where one is visible. That small detail saves time if you later need a matching piece or a warranty claim on the item.

Decide how much the gap matters to you

A missing or damaged contact breaker rarely decides a car purchase alone, but it tells you something about how the car was kept. Weigh it with the rest of the inspection. If several small items are missing, ask the seller for a written list of what is and is not included. Agree the price with that list in front of you rather than discovering gaps after you drive away. A short written note from the seller about known faults also helps if a dispute comes up later, because it shows what was disclosed before you paid.

Take your time with this check. If the seller hurries you past it, ask why. Small faults are easier to price in before you pay than to argue about after you drive away.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• How a Car Works contact-breaker guide
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance