Rough Idle After Distributor Cap Replace

[ausgezeichnet]

Guys,

I just replaced the distributor cap and rotor on my 83 SC. Now it barely idles. Seems like is it missing a cylinder.

Fortunately, just before I replaced them I took the car our for a short drive an it ran fine.

I am sure I have the plug wires in the right spots on the cap because I labeled the wires took pictures before I removed anything and they also match order of the original yellow sticker on the car.

Is it possible for the cap to be rotated 180 degrees? If so, would that cause rough idle.


Mike

[Litle brother]

Hi Mike.

If I am not wrong the distributor cap only goes on one way.
But are you absolutely sure that the spark plug wires are all the way down in the distributor cap and well connected to the plugs?
Sometimes a bit hard to get the wires all the way in.

Sounds like you’re having a bad connection.

Just asking

Eskild


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ausgezeichnet

Is it possible for the cap to be rotated 180 degrees? If so, would that cause rough idle.

Like Litle Brother says check everything. No way on 180 out.

You did something simple causing the problem.

Especially if this was the only maintenance.

The spring clasp on the forward side of the cap is a stinker on my 81. Just saying.

[ausgezeichnet]

Thanks. That's what I thought. The wires are snug. They were not that difficult to remove or reseat so it was easy to make sure they were all fully seated.

[ausgezeichnet]

The cap seems to be seated firm I wonder if it could be a bad cap or rotor

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ausgezeichnet

The cap seems to be seated firm I wonder if it could be a bad cap or rotor

1 6 2 4 3 5 counter clockwise. Nail this.

[Norm01]

Try putting your old rotor back in to see what happens.

[big911fan]

Check to make sure the rotor is pressed down on the distributor all the way. I had one once that was very tight and needed to be re-seated. Push down on the rotor to make sure it's seated then see if the cap seats any differently. After checking the firing order as above of course.

[ausgezeichnet]

Problem solved. The Distributor cap was not secure. Must have been that stinker clasp!