Petrol Bongos, Check your Distributor

[apole]

Hi guys,

Just replaced my rotor arm and distributor cap. Big difference in the way the car runs and starts.

This is something that deteriorates gradually so you don't really notice. However, now mines changed I can really tell the difference.

Also, whilst you are there, check that the O ring between the cap and body is there and in good condition. Several people with the V6 have reported water ingress and I'm sure the presence and condition of this plays a big part in that.

Worth a look if you have the time/inclination.

The rotor arm on the V6 has a strange surface, rough and like the surface of a sparkler. 2 of the pins inside the cap are also flush with the cap.

At 110K my rotor arm was about half the depth that the new one was, and the contacts on the cap were a few MM down too. The car drives alot better, much smoother and less throttle needed, hoping the MPG will improve too but time will tell. Also starts on the dot from cold.

[JDS]

Hi Apole
Where did you get the new cap and rotor arm? and what sort or price? Just thinkng of bying them now for the future.

Dave

[cheffy34]

O ring mine will soon have one of those apole i believe eviction on the resident sticklebacks in my dizzy cap will be proceeding shortly just intime for the dry summer we are going to have althought he icecream container theory is brilliant so i'm gonna spray it a nice colour and make it a permanent removable fixture just incase, it is amazing the amount of dry water splash marks on it beware you v6ers i reckon the o ring was the root of all my evil, with the stupid heat and lambda sensor getting gooosed when i took that 3 cylinder missfire because of water ingress


Dar

[apole]

Hi,

I eventually got mine from Japanese Automotive Solutions, they could source them within a few days, although they were more expensive at £84 for the cap and arm. Local Mazda dealer was considerably cheaper but eta was much much longer as none in UK.

Out of the 2 parts I'd say the rotor arm was alot more worn, the pins on the cap cleaned up well and didn't look so bad, but I guess looks could be deceptive.

I didn't get a new O ring in the kit so I will be ordering that and replacing just in case, the cap fits very tightly hence my comment on the O ring being required. I don't get water marks or any water issues (fingers crossed).

Just as a comparison I did put the part numbers in YIP and google, quite a few ford cars share these parts so it maybe worth doing a wider search, also you can get the cap in the states for $20 but they wouldn't ship to the UK.

Part numbers for mine are:
Rotor Arm JE2618V05A
Cap JE2618V00

With Mazda the arm was about £9 and the cap £43 so if you can wait it's quite alot cheaper.

The american place is http://mihtools.com/shop.php?k=JE2618V0 ... &x=31&y=12

What a price difference eh?