Help. Simple distributor issue
 

Hey== I changed plugs, rotor, and cap.

No start/spark.

Yes, I've searched my a$$ off and can't figure out the issue.

I think the cap is not seating properly as the forward clamp is extremely hard to engage and disengage while the back clamp is easy.

I broke the new rotor already and have reinstalled the old one, still no spark.

any tips? getting just a bit frustrated. I believe the wires are sequenced correctly on the cap based on photos.

thanks in advance, Jack

gratuitous image.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1181414319.jpg

What is the firing order? What is the direction of distributor rotation? What wires are on what terminals of the cap?

Got it started but runs like crap.

I slid the wires around on the cap one slot as I think I was off. The #1 is just ccw of the hump on the cap on which the clasp fits. I verified the order with the diagram on the car.

The rotor moves ccw, verified by the 5th gear rocking trick.

Could I have upset the timing somehow effing with the thing?

thks

I just put the car at TDC and verified that the rotor points to #1. But no start at all now.

the cap seems to be seating well now.

You could be 180 deg off. TDC could be #4 also. Rotate again to Z1 reset rotor to #1.

Just this week, I had an issue where my car would stop and not start up again. It would crank just fine but it wouldn't fire. I took it to the mechanic and it was determined that the Distributer signal wire was bad so we replaced it and it started up right away and in the day I've had it back, it has not stopped on me. One other thing. One of the leads to the terminals on my coil was shorting out on the spark plug wire ground shielding. We rerouted and rewired some PO handiwork and the car runs like a Champ.

Good Luck.

Think I did that. Lined up Z1 on the pulley and the narrow end of the rotor is pointing to #1 wire--right? i did notice z1 also pointed to #4 though which I think is also right.

How could I have made it 180 degrees off just by changing the cap?

I also put the old cap back on, which fit better, but no start either.

Thanks for the reply. Jack

Update: I lifted the inner cover off the distrib (under the rotor) and there was a piece of metal in there along with a little piece of rotor plastic--the metal was def from the rotor which cracked up. still won't start though. also double checked wires at the plugs.

???

Not so simple a aproblem for someone like me so I appreciate the advice. J

Here are some pictures of the dist shaft and the inside of the rotor. I noticed that the protruding piece of plastic inside the rotor has sheared off a bit. could this be the problem?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1181421913.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1181421926.jpg

Possibly. Is it preventing you from indexing the rotor correctly?

holtjv,

It looks like you did not have your rotor seated all the way down, and when you cranked the engine, the rotor caught on the inside of the cap. Make sure the cap is OK, and that the rotor is seated all the way down. Then double check the wiring order on the cap - your distributor turns counterclockwise. The cap only attaches one way - look at the tabs on the inside lip.

I also sounds like #1 is in the wrong spot. Shouldn't #1 be just clockwise of the hump the clamp attaches to? Then they run counterclockwise from there 1-6-2-4-3-5

3 6
2 5
1 4

Huh. I'll double check, Walter, thanks. Bought a new rotor today, re-installed the plugs, all to no avail.

it must be in the dizzy.

Currently calming down with a gin and tonic and will hit it tomorrow.

thanks for the kind replies. Jack

morning bump, anyone?

You know you're lame when most of the posts are yours...

Anyway, I did put the cap on the other way and it fits better.

The car will turn over and almost start, so I believe its getting gas and spark.

thanks Jack

Jack,

Your problem has to be simple. Start from the beginning and double check what you have done.

Set the crank to Z1 at TDC for #1. That is when the rotor is pointing near where #1 should be (not #4).

Verify that the rotor is pointing to where you have the #1 plug wire attached to the distributor cap.

Verify the firing order from #1 counter clock wise around the cap.

This will fix your problem.

Judging by the picture, the distributor shaft hasn't seen much lube.

For an easy DIY service, go to:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/333640-distributor-service-clean-lube-real-easy-without-removing-pinion-gear.html

Follow the advise given to index your distributor correctly.
Make sure the rotor seats properly, check the inside of the cap for damage, especially the spring-loaded carbon pin.
Confirm the firing order on the ccw direction.
Use a timing light to set the 5deg BTDC.

I've re-verified everything multiple times. Is it possible that I blew a fuse somewhere? What are the possible consequences of starting the car with a dicked up dizzy that I haven't thought of?

I even checked the airbox for a stuck pop off valve but no luck.

I'll do it all again now.

And Gunter, you're right, the shaft is very dirty and there's some sort of soft padding material on which the rotor seats that's skanky looking.

Thank you all VERY much for the replies.

Ok, here's what I did:

1. removed cap
2. moved pulley to tdc

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1181504228.jpg

3. ***NOTE** for the first time, the rotor was not pointing to 4 or 1 so I moved it to the notch in the distributor ccw. May have happened since I swapped the cap around?

5. verified the firing order and wires
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1181506017.jpg


6. checked for spark, yes

7. checked for fuel pump working. With key on, I hear a high pitched whine that does NOT change when I pull down on the fuel sensor plate arm--i guess I expected some other noise?

8. turned my alarm on and off (I always keep it off but once when I put a new battery in had to reset it).

thanks again. Jack