Not fitting distributor cap on right, would appreciate quick help
 

Hello,

Just put the plugs, rotor, cap and filters on my car and stated her up. The dang distributor cap started coming loose so I quickly killed it. The cap looks to be ok but my question is how to keep the sucker on.

On each end there is a screw with a hook on the end. I installed it so the hooks face directly into distributor. Should they actually be running along the distributor facing forward or back? Would appreciate a quick response.

Thanks.

Are yousure the rotor is fully seated correctly?

Then the dust cover, then the cap, it is marked with a divet so you can not mis-align.

Then using a philips screw driver and push turn and snaps into place. If you did it correctly it will not turn any further once it reaches the stop.

J.

Post a pic so we can see how it is seated.

Thanks Draco I got it n there correctly. I tried turning the cap by hand once I had it in place and it wouldn't move.

Next question. If you changed fuel and air filters, plugs, cap, and rotor, is it normal for the car to Studder under acceleration for the first mile or two? The problem went away pretty quickly.

No that is not normal. Sure sound like the cap is not seated correctly. Once you start it and in idle any air in the fuel lines will quickly disappear from changing the fuel filter.

Take look under the cap to see if there are any errand marks or scraps from the rotor. Engine studder is miss firing.

Also each spark plug boot clicked when you placed them on the plugs and the cap, right? Sometimes air gets trapped under the boots not allow proper seating.

Where abouts in L.A. are you?

The cap fits in a specific notch on the rear of the distributor. If your cap is 180 out, you need to remove the wires and turn it so it clicks into position. Reinstall the wires according to sequence.
Bruce

I pulled the cap, re-sat it and made sure to re-click all wires on the cap and plugs. Fired it up again and there was one slight studder in first gear, nothing after that. I parked and restarted the car and it ran with no stuttering.

My slight concern is damage done to the rotor. One of the copper posts had the side of it's plastic support broken off when the cap initially came loose. See the attached pic (lower middle post) and tell me if you think i should just replace it.

Also a note about the rotor. I did have it facing the correct 180 degree direction. However when i pulled all plugs and sat it on the distributor it never felt like it sat in perfectly. It wasn't until i rotated it back and forth that i could fell it lock into place. I also struggled with plug # 5 as it rests too closely to the black engine shroud behind it. I had to seat only this plug when placing the cap, which naturally pushed the cap towards the rear bumped and made it even harder to find that seated position i described.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350873591.jpg

Replace the cap and rotor. Cheap security.