Distributor: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. On vehicle equipped with A/C, remove the electrical cooling fan and shroud assembly from the radiator. This will provide room to turn the engine with a socket and ratchet using the vibration damper bolt.

Marking Distributor Housing (Typical Distributor):

3. Scribe a mark on the distributor housing below the left side of the number one spark plug wire post of the distributor cap to use as a reference for #1 cylinder firing position.
4. Remove distributor cap.

Align Timing Marks:

5. Turn the engine in a clockwise direction until the rotor is approaching the scribe mark on the distributor housing. Then slowly turn the engine until the timing mark on the crankshaft vibration damper lines up with zero on front cover timing scale.
6. Align the trailing edge of the rotor blade with the mark scribed on the distributor housing.
7. Remove distributor hold-down bolt and clamp.
8. Remove the distributor from the engine.

Align Oil Pump Gear Shaft:

INSTALLATION
1. If necessary, using a flat blade screwdriver, turn the oil pump gear shaft until the slot is slightly past the 11 o'clock position.
2. Install the rotor.
3. Without engaging the distributor gear into the cam gear, position the distributor into the hole in the engine block. Be sure that the distributor gasket is installed.

Distributor Installation:

4. Visually line up the hold-down ear of the distributor housing with the hold-down clamp hole.

Rotor Alignment (Typical Distributor):

5. Turn the rotor to the 4 o'clock position.
6. Slide the distributor down into the block until it seats. Keep the hold-down ear aligned with the hold-down clamp bolt hole.
7. The rotor should be in the 5 o'clock position with the trailing edge of the rotor blade lined up with the scribe mark in the distributor housing.
8. Install the distributor hold-down clamp bolt and tighten 13-19 Nm (9.5-14 ft-lbs).
9. Install the distributor cap on the distributor housing and torque the hold down screws to 3 Nm (26 in-lbs).
10. Connect the primary wiring connector.