Hello, stupid question here. I have the full service manual and still this puzzles me. I have a 1976 datsun b210 a14 engine. The engine has been running rough since cold weather came my way. Well when you pull up on the bottom of the distributer the car starts right away and idles and drives like a dream. When you turn the car off and restart it without holding or pulling on the distributer it runs like garbage.

The distributer is tight, could it be a seal on the vacuum mechanism on the side of it? Would that mess the car up like this?

I'm going with the wire from the points to the coil being lose or that the dizzy cap is worn, the gap is too big for the spark to jump across. Take it off and have a look for scorch marks at each post, and the tip of the rotor button.

When you push/move these items, the gaps close up.

Hello,

It has a brand new cap and rotor, I will check the points I have two new sets of those. I didnt realize that stuff moves inside when you move the unit. I barely move it, it's more less me putting presure on it and then it's great. Drives anywhere till you restart it. Will let you know thanks. I the meantime if anyone else has a guess let me know.

Have a go at pulling up the rubber boots at the ends of the leads and ensure the metal contact bits of the leads are touching the metal contact bits on the dizzy cap. Pretty simple thing to over look. Do the same at the coil and the spark plugs.

While your there check those metal contacts in the dizzy cap for moisture (white stuff), moss, furry animals etc.

In other words, check all the basics.

you are creating an earth by touching it, try checking the wire connected to it and tracing it for a break, also check the dwell and the points.
Is it also cold up there, condensation is also a factor

get a later model ignition system without points. Points are ugly and make owning an older car more maintance.

I'm a little unfamiliar with the a series, but the first thing that sprang to my mind was the vacuum hose for the timing advance...
could that be it???

I changed the points and condenser and it runs perfect. All this time I thought I had a carb and vacuum problem. I cant believe how "GREAT" it's running.

nm