A distributor’s job is to let the current from the coil is transferred to the spark plugs. A fault in the distributor can cause the engine to misfire. Luckily removing and fitting a distributor is an easy task that only requires a screwdriver, provided that you have the replacements available. However, there are certain signs you need to spot before deciding to replace a distributor. Read on to find out how to remove and fit the distributor in a car’s ignition system.
Signs of a Bad Distributor
A distributor is responsible for providing the spark plugs with the current needed to kick-start the combustion process in the engine. A fault in the distributor can lead to multiple issues in the ignition system. Following are some of the signs that indicate a problem with the distributor:
- A bad distributor can cause your car to have a rough start.
- Upon visually inspecting the distributor cap, you can see signs of wear in the form of cracks.
- If the distributor cap is worn out, moisture can seep into the distributor housing. If there is a presence of moisture inside the cap, you must replace it immediately; otherwise, the moisture can cause short-circuiting.
- A faulty distributor cap will not stay in its place firmly and will start moving while driving. It will result in the engine not working properly due to loose connections between the distributor and spark plugs.
- You start hearing squealing noises from your car.
- A bad distributor will give less spark to the spark plugs to ignite the engine. If the engine starts to misfire or stall abruptly, look at the distributor thoroughly for any signs of damage.
- Another sign of a faulty distributor is the sudden appearance of scales on the distributor terminals.
How to Remove and Fit the Distributor
Finding the exact individual parts of a distributor similar to yours can be cumbersome. It is thus advisable that you replace the whole unit if you experience a fault in the distributor. Make sure you take your old distributor along when buying a new one so that you can get a distributor of the right dimensions for your car.
Things You’ll Be Needing:
- A new distributor
- A new distributor cap (if not included)
- New high-tension wires (if needed)
- New contact-breaker points (if needed)
- A set of screwdrivers
- A set of wenches
- A masking tape
- A marker
Removing the Distributor
Follow the following steps to remove a distributor from your car:
- Start by locating the distributor under the hood of the car. It is usually present near the engine and can be easily spotted by the high-tension leads.
- Now find the ignition timing for your car using a stroboscope light. If you are not sure about the ignition timing, consult your car’s owner’s manual. You need to know the exact ignition timing specified for your car when replacing the distributor with a new one.
- You now have to disconnect the battery to avoid getting shocked while removing the distributor.
- Now remove the distributor cap by unclamping it from the housing. If it is screwed in, use a screwdriver to free it.
- You then have to disconnect the high-tension leads from the cap. Before you remove the high-tension leads, inspect their condition. Fit new high-tension leads one by one as well if they are damaged or have a brittle appearance.
- You need to mark the leads with a masking tape and a marker to know which lead goes where in the distributor.
- It is also good to mark the mounting points for the new distributor near the engine where the old distributor is present. So, you can easily fit the new distributor corresponding to those markings.
- Also, mark the rotor arm with the marker so that you know the exact position of the rotor while placing it inside the new distributor. The position of the rotor arm should be similar to the new distributor; otherwise, the engine might not start.
- Now remove the bolts and screws that hold the distributor housing in place and carefully pull the old distributor out of your car.
Fitting the Distributor
Now, for fitting a new distributor in your car, follow the following steps:
- You have to make markings on the new distributor corresponding to the markings made earlier on the older distributor. This ensures that the new distributor aligns perfectly with the rotor arm.
- Attach the rotor arm and align it with the marks that you had marked.
- Install the new distributor in its places in accordance with the mounting points marked earlier. Secure it in place by tightening the screws and bolts.
- You need to install the contact breaker points in the distributor. For this, you can use the old contact-breaker points or fit and adjust new contact-breaker points if the older ones appear worn out.
- Now, attach the marked high-tension leads to the new distributor in the exact order they were previously in.
- You can also change spark plugs at this point. Replace the faulty ones with new spark plugs.
- Reconnect the battery and start the car. If the car doesn’t start right away, try adjusting the rotor arm to get the engine revved up.
- Note: To enhance the performance of the car, test the battery. You can use a car battery charger or buy a new battery if the old one is depleted.
- Using the stroboscopic timing from a strobe light, adjust the engine’s ignition timing.
- Once the ignition timing is set, you can take your car for a test drive.
Additional Measures
It is advisable to inspect your ignition system thoroughly. You can check the electrics using a multimeter. Also, check and replace any fuses that might have blown to ensure your car runs smoothly.
And there you go, a simple and easy way of getting your car’s engine working at its optimum level. Knowing how to remove and fit the distributor can exponentially improve your car’s health and engine performance. Simple replacement tasks like this require minimum effort. Removing and fitting the distributor by yourself is also budget-friendly compared to getting the replacement done by a mechanic.
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