distributor problems
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distributor problems
i just put a new distributor in my 300 i6, and it ran perfect for all of 4 miles and started puttering then left me stranded. a few minutes later it cranked up and ran good for a few seconds before puttering again. got it home and it hasnt started since. ive tried turning the housing ever so slightly as to maybe adjust the time... but didnt work. my only guess is to find tdc and set to #1 on distributor? is that what should be done? if so. what is the best or easiest way to find tdc without removing valve cover. its a hassle to get all the intake manifold off just for that. its a 95 300 efi..
Postmaster
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From: Renton, WA
To find TDC of compression:
1. Remove #1 spark plug
2. Connect switch or wire to jump starter silenoid (connecting the battery pos to the smaller post on top)
3. Plug the hole left by the #1 spark plug with your finger (it won't hurt)
4. Use the wire or switch set up in step 2 to click over the starter to turn the motor in short intervals
5. When the compression stroke starts to compress it will push your finger out. When that happens the pistion will be on it's way up on the compression stroke, continue to turn the motor slowly until the timing mark on the balancer reads TDC. you will then be at TDC of compression.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
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From: Renton, WA
i just put a new distributor in my 300 i6, and it ran perfect for all of 4 miles and started puttering then left me stranded. a few minutes later it cranked up and ran good for a few seconds before puttering again. got it home and it hasnt started since. ive tried turning the housing ever so slightly as to maybe adjust the time... but didnt work. my only guess is to find tdc and set to #1 on distributor? is that what should be done? if so. what is the best or easiest way to find tdc without removing valve cover. its a hassle to get all the intake manifold off just for that. its a 95 300 efi..
However;
I do not think timing is your big issue. It ran fine for a while, timing could then only be an issue if the distributor was loose and turned in the motor, and then all you'd need is to reset it with a timing light.
Do you have, Are you using a timing light?
If I was presented with your problem the first thing to do is to check for spark, that is to see if there is spark comming from the coil. This can be done two ways.
First, easiest, and safest, is to use a timing light. An inductive (uses a clamp over the wire) timing light will only flash when the wire it's on fires. So clamp the timing light on the coil wire with the wires hooked up or with the coil wire just grounded and turn the engine over, does the timing light flash.
Get this far, tell us more of what's going, on and we'll take it from there.
Laughing Gas
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From: The OC
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new distributor problems(cont. of distributor problems)
i just had the chance to put my original distributor back in and it started right up. but now it has a pronounced clicking sound like the timing may be off?? should i just find tdc? how exactly do u align the marks on the balancer to tdc? is there a second mark to align them? or just straight up and down? if its a timing issue should i just find tdc?
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so if i do have it running, dont try to turn it to tdc?? i am actually not familiar with a timing light.. what does it do exactly? and can u get them anywhere? could it just be that i have it a tooth off or something on the distributor gear?
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: EXTREME southwest CT
Jason,
You don't "align" the timing marks to TDC, that is taken care of by the fact that the balancer is keyed to the crankshaft.
You can tell that you're at top dead center *on the compression stroke* by seeing if the rotor is pointing at the number one sparkplug wire terminal in the cap (and not 180* away) when the marks on the balancer are lined up.
You really need a timing light to set the proper ignition advance.
If your old distributor works what caused you to replace it?
You don't "align" the timing marks to TDC, that is taken care of by the fact that the balancer is keyed to the crankshaft.
You can tell that you're at top dead center *on the compression stroke* by seeing if the rotor is pointing at the number one sparkplug wire terminal in the cap (and not 180* away) when the marks on the balancer are lined up.
You really need a timing light to set the proper ignition advance.
If your old distributor works what caused you to replace it?
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i just went back to a parts store and got yet another distributor since the old left me stranded the other day. but i attempted to replace it becuz it was missing every now and then and i had replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor already and cant think of what else that it could have been to cause it to miss not on a regular basis but pretty bad at higher rpms. but i do have a rebuilt that i just put in a few minutes ago and it is running. but has a slight tapping sound. idk what it is. maybe slight timing issue?? if i get a timing light, what would i need to do after i figure out if #1 is in fact getting the spark as it should? also how do you set the proper ignition advance?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Renton, WA
You really need a timing light and to learn how to use it.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
You need to look under the hood for the emissions data sticker.
This will tell you what advance to set the timing at.