Does this look right?

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 20:14

The distributor cap off my BX 4x4.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 07 May 2006, 20:51

Of course not

The cap must have been offset for longish. Did the engine run at all ? Or did it just have some strange problems now and then ?

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 21:00

why would it be offset???

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 07 May 2006, 21:12

Ian Fearn wrote:why would it be offset???

Because the pins are worn down. That was my first impression.
But now I got your message and see the cap contacts are indeed moulded offset into the cap body. This means you either have angled studs or bushes at the offset contacts which still looks bright new.

It seems then that any problem may be from the fact that you have burnt areas in the cap body before and after the (in pic's) lower contact pins. These areas may well be carbon plated and upsetting the distribution of the spark.

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 07 May 2006, 21:15

Looks like there has been contact between the rotor arm and the plastic at some point, probably got some lift in the distributor shaft but other than that it looks about normal to me.

Whats the problem with it.

Dave

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 21:22

Hunting at idle and rough running. Plugs are all OK, air flow meter changed for a known good one, throttle body changed, air filter and leads all good too.

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 07 May 2006, 21:29

Whats the bearing like on the end of the shaft ?

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 21:32

Do you mean the shaft the rotor arm is on??

What should it feel like?

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 07 May 2006, 21:36

Should only be a small amount of movement 1-2mm at the very most.

Thats the post I meant, the one the arm slots onto.

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 21:37

There is a very small amount of movement in it, nothing more than you suggest.

sub42 · Unread post by **sub42** » 07 May 2006, 21:41

With that amount of deposits inside the cap, no wonder it's hunting and missing. Give it a good clean up first before buying a new one, I've saved loads of caps that way.

Mark.

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 07 May 2006, 21:42

Sideways movement that is, not rotary movement, I would suggest an amount of movement in the order of 2mm would mean you distributor is well goosed.

Dave

Ian Fearn · Unread post by **Ian Fearn** » 07 May 2006, 21:44

I've just tried to scrape away the deposits but it is seriously eroded. At 14 quid it needs a new one anyway!

There isnt any rotary movement, just a bit, and i mean a tiny bit of sideways movement.

How does the rotor arm come off by the way?

xantiatdsx · Unread post by **xantiatdsx** » 07 May 2006, 22:00

Doesnt look too bad, I did thousands of miles in my 16v with the cap looking similar with no problems!
http://www.bx16v.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 3773b6ae5a
However, for £14 you may as well try it. They are serviceble items at the end of the day!
TIM

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 07 May 2006, 22:02

Oops, this will of course be direct drive on the end of the camshaft, I was thinking a bit too old school.

Give the cap a good scrub out and see if symptoms persist, if they do you need a timing light to (check all four) see if there is any fluctuation in ignition timing, if there isn't you will be looking for a fault with the fueling.

Rotor arms normally just pull off but don't hold me to it.

Dave