How to Remove a Distributor Cap

Video Transcript

"Hi! My name is Nathan McCullough on behalf of expertvillage.com. In this clip, we’re going to talk about the actual removal of the distributor cap. There are several kinds of distributor caps out there. This being a 6 cylinder engine, it only has 6 sockets for ignition wires. On other style caps, there will be additional wire for the ignition coil, which will be externally mounted. We can go ahead and remove this last bolt here. The cap must be pulled out and rolled off its perch like so. If this was a conventional style distributor cap, there would be additional plug wire socket that doesn’t go to any of the cylinders. That is a wire that runs to an externally mounted ignition coil. As you can see, this one does not have one, which means the coil is built into the distributor. The only sockets you have correspond with cylinders on the motor. If it had one the location of it would be on the top in the center, approximately right here where this button is. The ignition coil on this particular vehicle is built-in. It’s called an Integral Distributor, it’s down here in the bottom. It’s made of Bakelite plastic with a carbon element on the inside. They’re very brittle and as I said, care must be taken when removing the cap, not to damage this rod. They are not offered separately from the distributor and replacement of the whole assembly will be required if this is damaged. If they’re corroded a small amount of emery cloth can be used to clean up the small contact here on the end."