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Author Topic: Replacement distributor will not run right  (Read 5735 times)

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Offline kerryann

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #30 on: May 08, 2014, 08:16:11 AM »
it actually runs well when it does run.  pinging is gone.  im worried that the issue is just in the plug connection.  i know its fine on the box side because i checked the middle socket for power and the test light stays lit not matter which way i contort the wires to try and see if theres a broken wire.

where the three pickup wires go into the side of the distributor there is silicone instead of the formed rubber piece.  the silicone cracked from moving the wires around and you can see a bare copper wire in it.  not sure of they made a connection there and buired it.  either way i have to find where the problem is.

when it stops working the car will just crank with no spark then when it kicks back when you let off the key it sometimes fires and gets a backfire that way.  kind of odd.  74 pintowagon, does your reman have the factory style pickup with that little rubber block around the wires that presses into the distributor or the silicone like mine?

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #31 on: May 08, 2014, 08:26:12 AM »
Mine looks like factory new, almost sounds like they gave you a core, LOL...
Art
65 Falcon 2DR 200 IL6 with C4.

Offline kerryann

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #32 on: May 08, 2014, 08:41:59 AM »
yea it has a warranty so i think im going to try my luck with a new one.  now i know the 16L slot with a bushing will give a good curve.

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #33 on: May 08, 2014, 08:49:22 AM »
I'd take it back, I always open the box before I leave the store just because it says one thing on the box that don't mean the contents is the same, I bought oil filters before and get home and open the box and it's not what it says on the box..
Art
65 Falcon 2DR 200 IL6 with C4.

Offline amc49

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #34 on: May 08, 2014, 09:19:06 AM »
And so common now with everybody taking back thousands of parts that 'don't work'. The vendors constantly shoved numbers in O'Reilly's face showing 80% or some number close of all returns claimed not working or damaged have nothing wrong with them at all.They simply rebox and sell them again.  Rather something wrong with the brain that installed them. I watched it personally hundreds of times. No insult intended here at all of course. Just why every part you see now seems to have been handled previously, it HAS BEEN.

'.........didnt like the way the pickup was wired in, it's not a factory type junction with the rubber block that holds it in the distributor body, its a pile of silicone that has already cracked form moving around.'

In that case shoddy rebuild and just like Cardone who does stuff like that all the time. They know full well there were issues with that harness to pickup going bad when oil mist coming up through dist shaft affects the harness to soften rubber, then it begins to short internally. A big problem. Cardone probably testing pickup, it checks as good while not mishandling it and glue it back down to sell part. Probably a correct part shortage in there somewhere as well.

When I see minor issues like that on rebuilds I commonly fix them to not ever go bad again rather than risk getting an even worse part second time around. That commonly happens. Getting where I do something to fix every part I get now, the rebuild quality has totally gone to crap. If you leave it 'up to them' to get it right then expect issues, the Chinese doing this work do not care. Not even a little bit. I watched people who insisted on 100% correct part buy as many as 5 and then give up, not doable. Sure, you're entitled to a 100% good and correct part, but things today are not what they used to be. I've watched someone with that idea firmly in his head lose his butt completely (alternator clutch issues) like with Ford Motor Co. themselves over quality issues on a brand new car. Often it can be better to take the small screwing rather than make it much much worse. In my view if 80% (there's that number again!) of the rebuild job is right I will fix to guarantee the last 20% myself and then drive a thoroughly reliable part for years until it is dead. It saves me patience, Lord knows I need all of that I can get.

I can pull just about any rebuilt part on the planet out of the box and find issues with it. Now that common. You'd be simply amazed at how many like alternators come out with the field connections not cut short like required, they then short out against outer case to make alt not work right out of the box. With starters they commonly screw any connectors on the bakelite too tight and cracked right out of box. Can't count how many I saw like that. Other issues, bushings that easily fall out with no pressfit as required, the list goes on forever.

Offline amc49

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #35 on: May 08, 2014, 09:34:17 AM »
'Mine looks like factory new, almost sounds like they gave you a core........'

Cardone repeat quality part to part is that bad. No two boxes will have same looking quality in them.

I got bit by the blowing off of PCV rubber plug once way back in the day, since then I use PCV hose with a bolt positively hose clamped in place, ugly, but they withstand all backfires..... ......and to jonz, you don't look to stop backfires with valves, you fix the backfiring issue, not normal for engine to do that. I heard of Holley PVs blowing out left and right but never ran across one in all the years I worked on them, thinking there's a mechanic problem there rather than faulty part. Many people just yank them claiming they're 'blown', I'd simply pick it up and use it in another carb. Worked fine.

Offline kerryann

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #36 on: May 08, 2014, 10:20:58 AM »
amc49, i know what youre saying.  the mechanical end of this distributor (now that i shaved the registered fit surface that goes into the block down a thousandth or so with emery cloth) works very well and has a nice curve to it.  i could get a factory pickup on ebay for cheap but again not sure if it will "look like the picture".  other option is put the old pickup in.  it angers me my "new"  part doesn't work right but you are right, been through it with starters and countless other parts that are junk out of the box.  now i go to a local american's alternator and starter repair shop at his house and have them rebuilt the right way.

i did inspect this setup when i picked it up but just figured thats the best im going to get (as far as the silicone vs rubber block).  put my trust in the fact that it should be tested and work correctly but i should have known better than to do that.

davis unified ignition makes a very nice factory distributor but at $265 i suppose a new pickup if need be is the way to go here.




Offline jonz2pinto

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #37 on: May 08, 2014, 10:06:18 PM »
there are reasons i asked about a backfire valve(made the name just now).one is someone from church(with aerostar) would call me to check it out several times.they don't have the money to have it checked out by a mechanic.being fuel injected it is to complicated for me.i am not there when it happens.could be deiseling and motor turning backwards.a back valve might also keep from damaging something important like map sensor.would also help as a temperary tuning device til problem solved.would of helped in the case this topic is about.i do agree it should be a replacement for the proper fix.
Pinto-is short for pint-o-fun.

Offline amc49

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #38 on: May 09, 2014, 03:50:41 AM »
The car or whatever does not care how much money one has, they either have enough to fix the problem or............ .............d riving a vehicle entails certain responsibility to keep equipment running correctly or the problems begin. There is no such device as what you expound. Again, you fix the engine to not do it. Routine backfire that will not fix means cam timing is messed up or valve damage. Or exhaust plugged up. Regardless of the money situation. Not trying to be heartless, but the reality of the situation. Planet earth works in certain ways, we either go with those to our better benefit or against them and more trouble ahead guaranteed.

If truly dieseling then you put a solenoid on throttle or replace the one that's not working. You don't have to 'be there', simply ask when it does it, which is when key is turned OFF to kill the engine. Injection usually does not diesel as engine must have fuel to do it, the injectors turn off as engine is killed.

Offline kerryann

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #39 on: May 09, 2014, 12:46:44 PM »
i ended up sending the distributor back.  got another reman this morning.  the box it was in had went through hell but the distributor looked ok.  was on the 21L slot with no bushing so i took it apart.  noticed the tangs for the springs were bent more to increase spring tension.  i bent them back slightly so the coils of the springs just about touch at rest.  switched out the one heavy spring for a light spring off the original distributor.  now have two light springs.  i also had to sand the body down on this one too for it to fit into the block, no biggie though.  put it on the 16L slot and added the plastic bushing from the original distributor.  reassembled with some never seize and put it in the car.  car fired right up, i timed it and have it set at 10 initial 36 total.  with vacuum advance hooked up goes to 32 initial in park idling.  drove it around, no pinging and feels good.  there was definitely a broken wire where they spliced the harness together in the other one that i returned.  hopefully they don't just rebox it and send it back out!

my off idle flat spot is back but that i'll take care of another day when it stops raining out.

Offline jonz2pinto

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #40 on: May 09, 2014, 02:21:14 PM »
Good.I am glad things finally worked out. I have never worked on tuning distributors.I just haven't got past the carb tuning.
Pinto-is short for pint-o-fun.

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Replacement distributor will not run right
« Reply #41 on: May 09, 2014, 06:25:10 PM »
Glad to hear it's up and running, those numbers are good too..
Art
65 Falcon 2DR 200 IL6 with C4.