Distributor cap removal

[Umai Naa!!]

I know what he means haha.

[mattross]

WD40.... spray it all.
test your leads if you have a voltmeter (resistance should be generally above 2 kΩ). Whilst attached flex them around is you see the values change might be a dodgy lead. There is another way to do it with spraying a mist water (google it).

If it isn't your leads of dizzy, i'll bet its the O2 sensor....

[Alfred]

Sterling work by the RACQ man there. So to me it sounds like maybe a couple of the plug leads are breaking down. In my experience, a prime cause of misfires has been the leads.

However, first removing the car and cleaning it inside and out isn't a bad idea. The spring clips in your picture hold it on. Check the rotor too.

Take the plug leads out one at a time and clean/inspect them. Then refit.

If it still runs rough. I am not a fan of the heatshields over the plug ends of the leads. So take them off.

Gavin

Clean under the cover and inside it? With WD-40 or something? To be honest I have almost no practical experience at all with this. I feel like a lost duckling. And what is the rotor and what does it look like?

Thanks for all of the helpful replies, I hope you don't mind helping me a bit more seeing as I am such a novice.

Angus

[mattross]

Take off the distributor cap, check inside for cracks and pitting, burn marks etc, spray it with WD40 inside. if the metal contacts look white or burned give a light sand.
Dizzy = 403 Forbidden
Rotor = 403 Forbidden
Rotor sits inside the Dizzy and can be taken off and light sand if looking burned or pitted.
This may help
993 - Distributor/Caps/Rotors - pcarworkshop

[mike90tsi]

This is the inside of a distributor

The brass coloured bits are the contact bits that need occasional cleaning.

This is a rotor

The brass coloured bit comes into very close proximity to the brass coloured bits in the distributor cap. Clean the brass coloured bit on to rotor, especially the round edge bit.

Don't take the leads off, you wont remember the order they go back.

If you are replacing the leads at some point, do them one by one so you know which one goes where.

[Alfred]

This is great. It looks quite easy, thanks a lot. I thought I had some WD-40 but I don't so I'll have to get some tomorrow from work.

I'll let you know if I have any issues.

Angus

[Alfred]

Cleaned distributor, rotor and spark plugs but it didn't improve anything . I'm going to take it to my mechanic on wednesday

[littlegldgti]

Dissy's are fun! haha.

Chances are, if you've had a bit of a moisture promblem for a while, then the contacts in the cap will be a fair bit corroded.

When you go to take the High Tension cables off the dissy, you'll probably find it quite hard to pull them off. Use a large flat head screw driver to ease off the plugs and they'll eventually come away.

If you find yourself cleaning the contacts, and they're incredibly worn (few mm) and you can't remember the last time it was changed (if at all) then order a new one at supercheap for like $50 bucks (and rotor button if it's brass disk is worn) and just replace the lot.

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If you ever have an issue with moisure in the dissy, easiest way to dry it out is with a hair dryer. (just don't tell the minister of war and finance)