coil capacitor broke.........

[leonZ]

hey guys just wondering if any1 has had the capacitor off of the bosch coil fry and short out there car, as mine did and was making a the whole cars electrics die, no power to the starter or fuel pump then after taking 3 hrs to figure out what was broke i just removed the capacitor from the coil now the car is running again. but im wondering if the capacitor did anything?, ive been told its only there to stop static playing on the radio when you rev the engine but not to sure myself. any thoughts are welcome as im stumped lol

[Zedman240®]

The capacitor is there for quite a few reasons, so rather than explaining all of them in a few paragraphs, I'll cut it real short. They are there for radio noise suppression, absorbing spikes from the coil when the points have closed. After 30 odd years (or less maybe) they do dry out and short / open circuit. it's a good idea to replace them now and then. They aren't expensive, so its cheap insurance to replace. Like the ballast resistor; after running hot for so long, they break and go open at the worst possible time.