How do you tell if you need a new distribtor on your car?

Bad point connections cause engine overrun, timing issues, speed missing and causes the engine to misfire or fail to start. Look closely at the surface of contact points. Check for corrosion or degradation. If the points look burned or the contacts have eroded or a worn out block, these parts need replacing.

1. When should a distributor be replaced?
2. Can you drive with a bad distributor?
3. Can a car start without a distributor?
4. What problems can a bad distributor cause?
5. How long should a distributor last?
6. What happens if your distributor timing is off?
7. Can a bad distributor cause loss of power?
8. Can a bad distributor cause rough idle?
9. What does a distributor do on a car?
10. Can a bad distributor cause battery problems?

When should a distributor be replaced?

According to most service manuals, replacing the distributor is recommended on most domestic and imports every 50,000 miles at a minimum.

Can you drive with a bad distributor?

5) Engine Stalling

A faulty distributor cap can cause your engine to stall. Voltage must be produced by the spinning distributor rotor for the engine to keep running. If the rotor does not rotate properly, the engine loses power and stalls out as you're trying to drive.

Can a car start without a distributor?

Engine cranks but doesn't start

If the distributor is bad, the engine may not get the spark it needs. As a result, the engine will crank, but it will not start or run.

What problems can a bad distributor cause?

In comparison with modern cars and their solid-state ignition systems, the distributor has to be one of the most infernal parts of an older engine. If not regularly checked and maintained, it can cause all kinds of problems, like poor starting, misfiring, low power and, er, being stuck on the side of the road.

How long should a distributor last?

The distributor doesnt go bad often, cap and rotor should eb replaced every 50,000 miles or so as part of a tune up. Also you would need new wires periodically. Before you go through all this make sure you dont have a distributorless ignition, which most cars have had for at least like 15 years now or longer.

What happens if your distributor timing is off?

Ignition timing retarding causes the spark plug to fire later in the compression stroke. The effects of retarding ignition timing include reducing engine detonation, which is combustion inside the cylinders after the spark plug fires. This is also known as engine knocking.

Can a bad distributor cause loss of power?

Bad spark plugs, fouled-up plug wires or a cracked distributor cap can cause spark loss, while compression loss -- in which too much of the air-fuel mixture flees a cylinder before going bang -- commonly arises from a leaky exhaust valve or a blown head gasket [sources: B&B; O'Reilly].

Can a bad distributor cause rough idle?

A failing distributor cap will result in rough idle because the voltage is not being sent to the plugs at the proper time, or at all.

What does a distributor do on a car?

A distributor is an engine component that supplies power to each of the vehicle's spark plugs. The basic concept is simple and straightforward; the ignition coil delivers power to the distributor cap, sending it to each individual spark plug via the spark plug wires.

Can a bad distributor cause battery problems?

A bad ignition coil can't drain a battery. Ignition coil put into the circuit only when ignition key is switched on and it is switched off immediately when machine starts working. If battery is draining, get the electrical circuit checked thoroughly by a professional technician only.