Distributor rotor problem - Help required please?

[MagicBytes]

Hi, on my Ford Festiva WB Trio 1995, I noticed I am able to mount the distributor rotor in three different positions on the distributor shaft, is this normal or is there an identification mark to go by?

My ignition system is the electronic type.

Please help me with this issue?

Cheers from MagicBytes

[Movin]

The rotor should point to the cylinder that is at TDC firing stroke. When you find that the engine will run again.

[MagicBytes]

Hi Movin, thank you for your time and reply, yes I realize that, but I was wondering should there be a location notch or some kind of identification mark so that the rotor only goes on one way ?

I am trying to see if there is some thing wrong with my ignition distributor.

Cheers from MagicBytes

[standard235]

There's 3 ways the rotor can go on. I messed up and instead of lining up timing marks I just used trial and error. Worked for me lol

[Bert]

There's 3 ways the rotor can go on. I messed up and instead of lining up timing marks I just used trial and error. Worked for me lol

You are correct in that there are only 3 positions for the rotor but when the problem is compounded, with not being sure the engine will even run in the first place, then things start getting tricky. Movin is right; look down the spark plug hole nearest the rad and turn the engine over to see that that piston is Top Dead Center (TDC) and then point the rotor at the high tension wire that goes to that location.
With key on if both 12V wires on either side of the coil are live, but there is no spark coming through the coil, then highly likely the camshaft position sensor within the dizzie is kaput. You do not want to buy a new or rebuilt one of these (sensor is integral to the dizzie) as an experiment because they're expensive. Many versions of early 90s Mazda engines use the same distributor.
Good luck!

[WmWatt]

The Haynes manual says to mark the position before you take it off.

[sc72]

Mbytes, no there is not a locating notch for the cap, if the car is not funning yet, take the cap off and move the rotor to the next position, if it runs good, if not move it again and it should fire up.

[drddan]

I hear about this "3 position" rotor all the time...and it confuses me to an extent....

...because on my 1988 Festiva, the rotor will only go on ONE way! I've tried to put it on the other positions, and it wont go!

Is there a difference between the rotor sfafts on the 88-89 models and the 90-93 models?

To explain somewhat, if I look at the hole in the rotor itself, there is a metal tab that makes contact with a "flat" on the rotor shaft, only allowing the rotor to go on one way.

Is this tab and shaft flat not existing on the later models?

[FestYboy]

^ correct

[drddan]

^ correct

Well ... that sucks! Why would they do that? Phfffftt! That could/does cause problems. Good thing there is this forum!

[standard235]

Yeah imagine my displeasure when I didn't take note of rotor orientation when I replaced it lol

[Festy46]

Another thing to keep in mind is there are "2" TDC. One on the compression stroke (the correct one) and one on the exhaust stroke (the wrong one). If your fingers are big enough and long enough to reach down to cover the spark plug hole of number one cylinder, bump the starter enough to turn the engine over a little bit. When you feel pressure pushing on your finger, stop bumping the starter and look at the crankshaft pulley. The TDC mark should be very close to the pointer. Rotate the engine by hand to get the pointer lined up with the crankshaft pulley mark. Then look at your distributor rotor and compare it to the distributor cap when installed. The plug wire connection on the cap that lines up with the rotor contact point is your number one plug.

[rasmussen316]

There are no mark to align it except for the timing belt marks on the crank and cam. If you take it off make sure you know the way the it was pointing.

[sc72]

Rasmussen316 welcome to the site and welcome to another Iowa member.

[rasmussen316]

thanks for the welcome.