My car Died on me last week while on the highway

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
1996 ACURA TL
236,000 MILES

My car Died on me last week while on the highway. Pulled over and smoke was coming from the engine. After a while of sittin I could start the car but would die shortly after. I noticed my oil being completely out(not normal) and I noticed oil on top of the distributor cap. And I also had a misfire on cylinder 1 & 2 before this. Towed to shop and mechanics diagnosis of the problem is I need a new distributor, distributor cap, and distributor rotor. He wants to charge 450$ for the repair but $150 in labor if get the parts myself. My brother is a mechanic at Mazda so I'm thinking if I can get the parts from a junkyard or parts warehouse and directions on how to replace those parts my bro and can do the repair ourselves and save a bunch of money. Can anyone help with directions on how to replace those things?

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

If you get a distributor, the cap and rotor should come with it. It is a plug and play component but ignition timing would be affected if it is not reinstalled as close to original as possible. Mark position before removal.

If your brother is a mechanic, he should know how to do this, being a basic part of engine mechanicals.