Distributor

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You don't want your car's distributor dying on you, especially in the middle of the road. That's because without this vital ignition part, your vehicle's engine is practically useless. You won't even be able to start it properly! No amount of pushing or jump-starting can get your car's engine to run without this ignition device. It's responsible for gunning high-voltage charges to the proper engine cylinders at the exact correct time, which ensures smooth engine operations. So without this component, you're stuck.

The job of the distributor is pretty simple. It takes high-voltage current from either the ignition coil (if your car has a carburetor) or the electronic igniter (if your engine uses an electronic fuel injection system) and feeds it to the spark plugs. The distributor's driveshaft, which is connected to the engine's camshaft ends, spins a small rotor along four metal contact points under the distributor's cap. These contact points are connected to your vehicle's spark plug wires. As the rotor spins, its plate transfers electric current to each spark plug wire; thus, firing your vehicle's spark plugs.

There are a few reasons of distributor failure. The number one reason is natural wear and tear. As the metal contact points and the rotor plate inside the cap wear out, the gaps between them widen and make it much harder for electricity to transfer from one part to another smoothly. That causes your engine to lose power over time. The distributor's driveshaft gear can deteriorate eventually as well, which causes the rotor to spin out of timing. Engine oil is another reason of a distributor's malfunction. As the seals protecting the driveshaft wear out, oil enters and contaminates other vital parts like contact points, the rotor plate, and the condenser. This slowly causes these parts to corrode.

A car without a working distributor can't run properly. So once symptoms of damage start to show, check this part for oil and carbon deposits. Check the driveshaft gear, contact points and rotor plate, too, for excessive wear. Disassembling this component should be easy as most caps are held only by a couple or more screws or clips. Make sure your car's battery is disconnected before checking, though. And if there's too much damage, you're better off replacing the distributor rather than risk getting stuck in the middle of the road when your engine fails.

Featured Models

Featured Products Nissan Frontier - Distributor DISTRIBUTOR, NEW -- Includes module, cap, and rotor; With rectangular 2-prong and 6-prong connectors; A high quality, direct fit OE replacement distributor. Brand: Replacement P_condition: New Type: OE Replacement Price: $208.21 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003 - SE; 6 Cyl 3.3L; 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004 - XE; 6 Cyl 3.3L; 2001,2002,2003,2004 - SC; 6 Cyl 3.3L; 2002,2003,2004 - SVE; 6 Cyl 3.3L; Infiniti QX4 - Distributor DISTRIBUTOR, NEW -- Includes module, cap, and rotor; With square 9-prong connector; A high quality, direct fit OE replacement distributor. Brand: Replacement P_condition: New Type: OE Replacement Price: $188.05 1997,1998,1999,2000 - All Submodels; All Engines; Mercury Villager - Distributor DISTRIBUTOR, NEW -- Includes module, cap, and rotor; With rectangular 2-prong and 7-prong connectors; A high quality, direct fit OE replacement distributor. Brand: Replacement P_condition: New Type: OE Replacement Price: $143.71 1999,2000,2001,2002 - All Submodels; All Engines; Nissan Pathfinder - Distributor DISTRIBUTOR, NEW -- Includes module, cap, and rotor; With rectangular 2-prong and 7-prong connectors; A high quality, direct fit OE replacement distributor. Brand: Replacement P_condition: New Type: OE Replacement Price: $148.11 1996,1997,1998,1999,2000 - All Submodels; All Engines; Infiniti QX4 - Distributor DISTRIBUTOR, NEW -- Includes cap and rotor; With oval 3-prong connector; Without module; A high quality, direct fit OE replacement distributor. Brand: Replacement P_condition: New Price: $110.00 1997,1998,1999,2000 - All Submodels; All Engines;