Why does it always happen to me :(

[collegeboi]

Ok well driving out to my house and car dies out. Luckily got a close friend that has a tow truck.


Ok so 1st thing i do is check the cap and rotor (from previous experience) and its a bit wet. I clean it out and run car again. It catches bettter but still dies.


I changed the cap, rotor, plugs, and wires a few months back so I'm guessing that cant be it, but could be.

My conclusion is that its the distributor.

Any advice??????

[miami man]

what year?

[WmWatt]

I'd get the electronic control module in the distributor tested.
Some auto parts stores do it for free.

[piratewilly]

check to see if its a fuel or a spark problem, if its a spark problem its probably either a bad coil, or, more then likely its the ignition control module inside the distributor going bad. If u get a new one they cost almost as much as a whole new distributor, i just got a new distributor when mine went bad

[collegeboi]

can a distributor from a 90 323 work???? my cars an 89 carbed but im guessing efi dont worrk.

[collegeboi]

Well the dist looks ok but there is water/oil on the wires on the inside so thats the 1st thing imma chane because with being wet, eventually it will need to be changed.

[mattswabb]

My conclusion is that its the distributor.

What leads you to believe this? I'd make sure before having your car down for a week while you wait to buy another one.

[collegeboi]

OK well the inside like all the wires are covered in oil.

but then i figured just change each individual wire.


**** The wierd thing is that there is grease looking chunks in the hole of the disty (where the silver screw it). I took of the circular cap and there was grease inthat hole.
My exs dad said thats normal? never heard of grease in disty before.

[piratewilly]

its nearly impossible just by looking at the distributor to tell if its good or bad, i would take it to get it tested and yeah some grease can be normal, think about it that thing is spinning fast it has to have some grease to keep it lubricated

[mattswabb]

I'd continue looking. Didn't you have this problem before? Cap, rotor, wires and plugs - check them all then start trouble shooting. Most of ours have oil that gets inside and they run fine.

[collegeboi]

ok so checkers testes it for free?? think i should get it tested.


what do i bring in ton test. Left my manual at my moms house so i just took off the two bolts on the brakets and pulled out the whole thing even with the housing bell thingy on the disty,


Haha dont wanna bring what is not needed to test it. LMK wat i need tested

[mattswabb]

Make sure you know how it came out. The distributor can be rotated 180 degrees. Pay attention to the position of the rotor.

Take the whole thing down there.

[collegeboi]

even with the wires connecting to the black housing? or just take off the wires fromthe disty

[collegeboi]

Does anyone have a picture of the ignition module in the disty of a carb. My mom might have accidenally thrown away the manual.

I can get that tested 4 free @ napaz

[collegeboi]

Man i'm hella stuck here. Im guessing that the module is the black boxy thing in the disty that has 3 wires plugged in. A, B and C. Idk if pulling the wires out is the right way and the spinny thing is blocking the module? and to just unscrewb that?


Dang life suks without a manual.