FAA Powerplant Written Practice Test

Which characteristic is associated with faulty capacitor breaker points?

1. Fine Grained

2. Dirty

3. Course Grained

4. Overheated

The correct answer is: Course Grained

The characteristic associated with faulty capacitor breaker points often manifests as a coarse-grained appearance. This condition arises when the surfaces of the breaker points become pitted or oxidized due to electrical arcing and insufficient contact. This rough texture affects the efficiency of the electrical connection, leading to improper functioning of the ignition system. Coarse-grained points can cause the points to fail to properly close, leading to intermittent operation or complete failure of the ignition circuit. In contrast, a fine-grained appearance typically indicates good function and is seen in well-maintained breaker points. Dirty points may also cause issues, but they are often characterized by contaminants rather than the texture that coarse-grained points exhibit. Overheating can be a symptom or a consequence of faulty points, but it does not specifically indicate the texture of the points themselves. Hence, the coarse-grained texture directly signifies underlying issues in the operation of the capacitor breaker points.