Your Car’s Distributor: What It Does And How It Works
Your engine’s combustion process relies upon a spark plug that sits atop each cylinder’s combustion chamber. It generates a spark which causes the compressed air-fuel mix within the chamber to ignite. The voltage behind that spark is pulled from your battery and gathered by your ignition coil. A component called the distributor regulates the timing behind the coil’s firing.
Below, we’ll explore your vehicle’s distributor and the manner in which it fulfills its responsibility. I’ll explain how its operation is critical to your car’s electronic ignition system. I’ll also describe the factors that can cause wear and tear, and what to do when the part needs to be replaced.
Timing The Distribution Of Sparks
The distributor consists of a cap and rotor. Both play important roles in sending the voltage from your ignition coil to each of your spark plugs. The rotor is connected to the ignition coil and spins within the cap. Each of your engine’s cylinders has a contact point within the cap. As the rotor spins, its tip passes near the contact points, triggering a high-voltage release from the coil with each pass.
The voltage output travels from the ignition coil to the distributor and onward through the spark plug wire attached to the contact point. From there, it travels to the spark plug that sits atop the cylinder’s combustion chamber.
What Causes Wear And Tear?
Most problems that form with your distributor are caused when the contact points inside the cap become worn. When this happens, it’s best to replace the cap and rotor. That ensures the contact points will remain clean and the transfer of voltage to the spark plugs remains unhindered.
One of the most common reasons the contact points become worn is due to the oil not being changed frequently enough. This can lead to erratic firing of the spark plugs which can eventually cause lower fuel efficiency, rough idling, and stalling.
When The Component Needs To Be Replaced
If funds are limited, you can purchase a remanufactured distributor (along with the cap and rotor) from an auto parts shop. Or, you can buy a replacement from a salvage yard. However, given the fact that these parts are inexpensive and extremely important to the performance of your car’s engine, you should buy an OEM replacement whenever possible. That way, you can have confidence in the quality of the component you’re purchasing.
With regard to installing the replacement, you should rely on the experience and expertise of a trained mechanic. The component’s ignition position needs to be aligned correctly to ensure proper timing of the coil’s firing. Moreover, the vacuum advance needs to be positioned correctly. Plus, once the new distributor has been installed, you’ll need to make slight adjustments to the timing to help manage emissions. This is a job that is best left to your auto technician.
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