Changing Spark Plug Wires Distributor Cap

However there are other factors that can play a role in the timing.

Changing spark plug wires distributor cap.

The safest way to change these parts is to. Most of the time your wires should last well beyond the 30 000 miles your copper spark plugs are rated for. Replace only one spark plug wire at a time in the exact same spot on the distributor and to the same spark plug as the old wire. So a six cylinder car will have six contacts on the distributor.

If a spark is present the problem is probably in the distributor cap rotor or spark plug wires. Breaker point distributor ignition systems were the standard of the industry for decades however the breaker points wore and required frequent maintenance. Electronic distributor ignitions were an advancement but still suffered from distributor cap and rotor wear. If the spark plugs are connected improperly the vehicle won t perform as expected.

The only critical rule to follow is that this order be maintained. Attach the spark tester to the distributor end of the coil wire. With that being said modern spark plug wires can also last much longer than they once did. The distributor rotor and cap keep the distributor s contents separate from the engine and keep the distributor s working parts clean and tidy while supporting the incredibly high volts of energy and.

Each point connects to one spark plug and each spark plug goes to one cylinder in your engine. The points of the crown are where the distributor is connected to the spark plugs by spark plug wires. It s possible for spark plug wires to be damaged. The engine fires in a specific succession which the spark plug wires and distributor cap are set up to support.

Each spark plug wire plugs into the distributor cap at a specific location on the cap. You may even want to take a photo before you get started. These factors cause the plastic in the cap to break down over time and the internal plug wire contacts to oxidize and deteriorate from spark arcing. Most are numbered for clarity.

The rotor routes the energy in a specific through the spark plug wires ultimately to the engine s cylinders in the correct firing order. Crack the engine and check for a good spark at the spark tester. If you did not see a spark remove the coil wire from the distributor cap.