![]() |
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
gratuitous image.
![]()
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,569
|
What is the firing order? What is the direction of distributor rotation? What wires are on what terminals of the cap?
__________________
'66 911 #304065 Irischgruen ‘96 993 Carrera 2 Polarsilber '81 R65 Ex-'71 911 PCA C-Stock Club Racer #806 (Sold 5/15/13) Ex-'88 Carrera (Sold 3/29/02) Ex-'91 Carrera 2 Cabriolet (Sold 8/20/04) Ex-'89 944 Turbo S (Sold 8/21/20) |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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.
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
You could be 180 deg off. TDC could be #4 also. Rotate again to Z1 reset rotor to #1.
__________________
1980 911SC #99 track car, 993 3.6, 50 PMO's 2019 Ford F150 da dragger 2015 MB SL400 wifey DD 2008 E93 M3 DD 2007 E60 530 wifey winter beater |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
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.
__________________
James Milton '82 911SC Coupe '07 GMC Yukon '92 Jeep Cherokee Sport (rain car) |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
Quote:
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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?
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
![]() ![]()
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Designer King
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Toronto, ON Canada
Posts: 5,499
|
Possibly. Is it preventing you from indexing the rotor correctly?
__________________
Paul Yellow 77 Sunroof Coupe/cork interior; 3.2L SS '80 engine/10.3:1/No O2; Carrera Tensioners; 11 Blade Fan; Turbo tie rods; Bilstein B6; 28 tube Cooler; SSI, Dansk; MSD/Blaster; 16x7" Fuchs/205/50 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s; PCA/UCR, MID9 Never leave well enough alone |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
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
__________________
Rex 1975 911s and 2012 Range Rover Sport HSE 1995 BMW R1100RS, 1948 Harley FL |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
morning bump, anyone?
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
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.
__________________
Rex 1975 911s and 2012 Range Rover Sport HSE 1995 BMW R1100RS, 1948 Harley FL |
||
![]() |
|
Somatic Negative Optimist
|
Judging by the picture, the distributor shaft hasn't seen much lube.
For an easy DIY service, go to: Distributor service (Clean and lube) real easy without removing the pinion gear! 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.
__________________
1980 Carrerarized SC with SS 3.2, LSD & Extras. SOLD! 1995 seafoam-green 993 C2, LSD, Sport seats. ![]() Abstract Darwin Ipso Facto: "Life is evolutionary random and has no meaning as evidenced by 7 Billion paranoid talking monkeys with super-inflated egos and matching vanity worshipping illusionary Gods and Saviors ". ![]() |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
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.
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,631
|
Ok, here's what I did:
1. removed cap 2. moved pulley to tdc ![]() 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 ![]() 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
__________________
Warren Hall (Early S Man), 1950 - 2008 ------------------------------------ 2006 Tri D675 Scorched Yellow 2006 Ducati Sport Classic mono SOLD 1979 SCWDP #0020 Talbot Yellow SOLD |
||
![]() |
|