Not quite, as page 38 of the owner's handbook refers to them as 'running in' markings, to show maximum recommended speeds in gears during the first 600 miles.
The problem is that there are only 3 marks and there's quite a difference in rpm between doing 55 in 4th compared to 55 in 3rd gear.

Just to confuse matters a bit, in the preface Citroen listed the speeds as 13 mph in 1st, 28 in 2nd, 40 in 3rd and 55 in 4th.
You pays your money and takes your choice...

ken

spanners you sound like my big brother

well if i find a wad of money i will get a 123,
however ive just ordered new points and condenser and going to set them up

i was going to ask a question here, but to save going of topic ill start a new thread

yes i am looking for peoples opinions, as, yes i now know the difference betwen then, and did a bit before, just wanted to here peoples personal experences, whether they can justify the money etc etc, because at the end of the day, i dont have any intentions of selling my 2cv in the near future, and i want to hang on to it for as long as possible, and eventually when i have to rid of it for what ever reason id put it back to its orginiality like when i bought it, i am trying to stay as original as possible....

James

the car will run fine on points and taking the time to learn how the car works , how to fix it and how to get the best out of it will give you years of pleasure( barf!)

and the only way to do that is to roll your sleeves up get dirty and make mistakes

and ask questions of the people who have made all the mistakes in the past

Sean

i wont roll my sleeves up,

i will put on my rolls royce overals

well ive done alot on outboard motors, re builds, but obviously its all different !!

Spanners, my 'dissing' comment was very much tongue in cheek.

Yes, I think James has as many opinions now as he might possibly need.

I would be very surprised, however, if electronic ignition didn't give a measurable improvement in fuel economy and, therefore, emissions. Of course, depending on how well the points are maintained, it could very well only be a tiny improvement. When you think about it, by their very nature, points are only 'perfect' when first set. Thereafter, until the next service, they get progressively 'worse'; the lobes wear, and the points themselves 'pit', and the ignition timing will alter a tiny amount. Ok, not to the point where performance will noticeably fall off, but it will still be less than 'perfect'. So, over a full service interval period - 3k miles, or so - I'd be very surprised if a useful difference can't be measured.

(Oh, another advantage I've remembered for having elec ignition is that is still provides a fat spark even when the battery is weak and the engine barely able to be cranked over.)


Thanks for the info, Ken. 'Running in' markings?! Jeepers, I'm treating my car too kind...

Have to admit, I've found the opposite. Electronic ignition sulks at higher voltages than points - it's a damn sight easier to start a points car on the handle when all you're getting is a click.

Oops! I have to confess I'm basing that comment on the only type I've ever used, which is 'electronic-assisted' ignition (like Sparkrite add-on units.) Your could hear the sparks 'cracking' and 'popping' inside the cylinders as you hand-cranked the engine with a 'dead' battery.

I've never been lucky enough to have the full monty

The electronic ignition doesn't provide the spark, the coil does. All the points, or for that matter the electronic ignition, is doing is collapsing the current flowing through the primary winding of the coil. Because it has a capicitor the current oscillates and the changing magnetic field creates a much higher voltage in the secondary winding.

There are however advantages to having electronic ignition. The dwell angle is internal to the ignition, with points it is a function of the point gap. Basically it is the time for which the points are closed, ie the time for which the coil is energised. Too much dwell angle is what leads to overheating of the coil and premature failure.

Well fitted and maintained points will give better performance all day long over badly or incorrectly fitted/set up electronic ignition.

Or, to put it another way, my cars with points have always out performed my friends cars with electronic both power and economy wise......

I've absolutely no doubt whatsoever that electronic ignition can be good but I would still maintain that the old points and condensor are still (when well fitted/adjusted) well and trully good for the purpose.

well my friend said we will do them with feeler (if thats how you spell it?) gauges, hes set up a few points in his time so i geuss he knows what hes doing

hopefully new points and condenser should arrive with postman pat in about 15 minutes

lets hope