93 Loyale distributor cap/ rotor changed now fubar

[donnieru]

Here is something else worth a check. Take the rotor off and take the Phillips head screw out of the center of the shaft that you screw the rotor on to. Lift it out and make sure that the optical disc didn't twist when the rotor jammed. The optical disc is supposed to have a flat spot to keep it turning. It it has a ridge instead of a flat,pop the disc out, lay it on a board and gently tap it back flat. I had a auto place give me the wrong cap and it jammed my rotor. Stupid thing took me hours to find lol. When you put the screw back into the center of the shaft put some threadlock on it so it doesn't vibrate loose.

[Rick James]

There are two bolts that hold the entire distributor in place. With those two bolts removed the entire distributor assembly (with cap and rotor) can be pulled up...and actually removed from the engine.

 

If you pull it up only a little bit, like an inch, then drop it back down chances are it's not lined up correctly. There are teeth at the bottom of the distributor that engage with the cam. There's only one way for it to be installed so these gears are properly lined up. If you pulled up on the distributor (those two bolts would need to be removed), it may have jumped a tooth. They are enormous gears (relatively speaking) and definitely could only jump teeth if you pulled the distributor up.

 

 

^^

Quoting because this turned out to be the solution. Pulling the distributor body up, turning, and dropping back in allowed for the correct advancement of the timing. This was somewhat ghettoed in the parking lot of Suby guys who listened to my sordid story, rehashed it along with me. We compared disty caps, double check wires and sequence, scratched heads, spun our wheels. The old guy had had enough so he reached in , unbolted, picked up, turned it(clockwise I think) dropped back in and then did the timing light. We had plenty of lateral play to get it advanced properly this time. They showed me how my attempt to advance the timing earlier had only gotten me to 0 degrees before getting max'd out by the bolts.

Still don't understand. There's no way the disty was able to move upward during the original fiasco. Could a timing belt have slipped?

 

GenDis...I didn't get around to removal of the timing belt covers. Couldn't bring myself to dealing with all the bolts and tight space at the time but will do that sooner or later to change the belt

 

Drove 3 hours to get home today and so far all is well, she ran beautifully.

 

akc, thanks, excellent tutorial pics.

 

many, many, thanks to everyone here.

 

There's only one way for it to be installed so these gears are properly lined up.

 

^^

this is why i said "ghettoed" in their lot. The old guy didn't attempt any correct way, just a seat of the pants pick it up, turn it a little, then drop it back in. This did the trick and compensated for "something"..dunno what :-)

[GeneralDisorder]

Perhaps the jammed rotor was strong enough to cause a loose t-belt to jump a tooth. I've seen t-belts jump time. The EA82 belts are especially prone if the tensioner isn't tight enough - being mechanically tensioned and thin I could easily see that happening. Though I would think it would break the distributor first. But I don't know - that's my best guess.

 

GD