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An internal combustion engine works by using the spark
plugs to trigger a controlled explosion of gas and air at the right
time. This means that the spark plugs must be synchronized to fire
in the right cylinder at the right time. This is handled by the distributor.
Here you can see the distributor cap (top left) with a gasket (bottom
right) as well as the rotor (bottom left). The spark plugs in each
cylinder are connected (via wires) to leads on the outside of the
cap. Inside, the rotor is connected to the electrical source of the
distributor and rotates at the same rate as the engine. As it spins,
it sequentially touches each of the four leads inside the cap, thereby
completing a circuit to a specific spark plug and providing the electricity
for a spark. |
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See my Spark Plugs
and Wires DIY for more information on those components.
To get started, thread the three provided bolts into the new distributor
cap. They're made so once they are in they won't fall out. |
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| Next locate the three bolts on the old distributor
cap and remove them. Here you can see two that are easy to get to. |
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The third bolt is tricky because it's on the lower
back side of the distributor cap. You'll need to fit your socket wrench
in there to get it off.
When you're done, pull off the distributor cap and set aside. For
now, leave the spark plug wires attached. |
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| Take a look at the distributor internals. Here you
can see the four tabs that are used to secure the gasket as well as
the rotor on the lower left. |
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| Remove the old gasket and replace it with the new one. |
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| To remove the rotor, find the bolt holding it and remove
it. Then pull off the old rotor. |
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Here's a comparison of the old rotor on the right and
the new rotor on the left. You can't really see much but the old rotor
is kind of corroded.
Put the new rotor back onto the distributor and replace the bolt to
secure it. |
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| Switch the spark plug wires from the old rotor to the
new rotor one at a time so you don't get them mixed up (since the
rotor hits the leads sequentially, making a mistake would cause the
spark plugs to fire in the wrong cylinders at the wrong time, not
good for engines). |
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| Put the new distributor cap back on and tighten the
three bolts and you're finished. |
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Here's a picture of the old distributor cap. From this
picture and from the appearance of the old gasket, it looks like the
old one was not installed right allowing a lot of crud to make it's
way into the distributor. Probably not a good thing. I'm not sure
if it came from the manufacturer like that or if the dealer did it
at my last major service three years ago. Oh well. It's fixed now.
Other than the bolt that's hard to reach, this was a pretty easy maintenance
item. Should only take 30-45 minutes. |
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