Distributor Cap Replacement

[Harpor]

I need to replace my distributor cap soon and as I recall it was difficult to get the bottom screw attached to the housing.I was wondering, anybody out there have a good method for attaching the distributor cap. The car is a 84 944. Thanks, Harry

[Techno Duck]

Push in and rotate with a flat tip screw driver. The bottom screw has to be turned counter-clockwise until it stops, almost one full turn.

[Zero10]

I use a 3/8" drive ratchet, a 3/8"-1/4" adapter, then a screwdriver bit adapter on the 1/4" end of the first adapter, then a really wide short flat-head bit in the screwdriver bit adapter. Sounds crazy, but it makes it the perfect depth to wedge the back of your hand against the headlight bar and apply just the right pressure to the ratchet to compress the spring. Once you have the screw positioned right it only takes 1/4 turn or so to latch the screw (you can do the first part of the turn without really compressing it), and this works within 1-2 tries almost every time (so long as you turn it the right bloody way!).

I farted around with screwdrivers and prybars and all sorts of strange methods of doing it, and this has worked perfectly every time for the last 4-5 times I've had to re-install distributor caps.

[porschenewb]

When I replaced mine i had to really push in twist as far as posssible to get it out. For the most part it was fairly easy.

[Techno Duck]

I always use a flat top stubby screw driver. You can get away with a longer one if you stick the handle end under the nose panel.

[Slam]

Took me less time to take off the entire aluminum piece with the cap still on it and get those b%$#tards from the back.

[HondaDustR]

I don't know what it is with that stupid thing, but I can't turn it the right way on the first try to save my life!

The ratchet contraption sounds like the best way.

[Zero10]

Originally Posted by Slam

Took me less time to take off the entire aluminum piece with the cap still on it and get those b%$#tards from the back.

That works great unless the dust shield is installed, then it won't come off all the way and you risk breaking the dust shield.

I don't have any pics of my method, but it is so easy to do I wish I could explain it better

[Arizona_928]

when I took mine off I got soo mad, I pulled off all the wires, and finally got it....
the only problem is I forgot the pattern that the wires go on............... dang!!

[krystar]

#1 is bottom right. then go clockwise.

[HondaDustR]

haha...anger management and fixing cars go hand in hand...like the time I was up and down the street with a flashlight at 1 in the morning looking for my oil drain plug so I would have a ride to work, or when I had to literally tie my throttle body on with zip ties 'cause I conveniently "lost" all 3 of the remaining bolts into the darkness trying to put the #$*@ thing back on in the dark and losing tools/bolts down the engine compartment one too many times.


It was weird, last time I replaced the cap I had to file the lower latch down on the front cover to get the retainer to even be able to reach far enough to make it over the latch. I only filed as much as was needed and now it takes a zillion pounds of pressure to push the stupid thing in far enough to latch it. I'll have to rig up that ratchet contraption next time.

[Harpor]

Thanks Guys,I`M going to try the ratchet method,sounds feasible to me.Harry