YACT: Check timing when changing distributor cap and rotor?

[J0hnny]

Just curious how hard it would be for me to change the distributor cap and rotor on my little 4 cyliner Honda Civic. I'm assuming I would have to check the timing again to make sure I didn't advance / retard the timing while changing the distributor cap and rotor?

 

[jtvang125]

No need to. Just unscrew cap off. You may need a hex key to unscrew the rotor off but it only fits one way so no chance of making a mistake there. You will see a large bolt near the distributor that if you loosen you will be able to move the distributor forward and back. Just don't loosen this bolt and you will be fine. Also make sure you plug the spark plug wires back into the correct output.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

what year of civic? most newer ones don't have a mechanical distributor

 

[slsmnaz]

The Garage

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
No need to. Just unscrew cap off. You may need a hex key to unscrew the rotor off but it only fits one way so no chance of making a mistake there. You will see a large bolt near the distributor that if you loosen you will be able to move the distributor forward and back. Just don't loosen this bolt and you will be fine. Also make sure you plug the spark plug wires back into the correct output.

Thanks!

Do you think I can do this during a lunch hour?

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
The Garage

WHOA!

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: J0hnny

Originally posted by: jtvang125
No need to. Just unscrew cap off. You may need a hex key to unscrew the rotor off but it only fits one way so no chance of making a mistake there. You will see a large bolt near the distributor that if you loosen you will be able to move the distributor forward and back. Just don't loosen this bolt and you will be fine. Also make sure you plug the spark plug wires back into the correct output.

Thanks!

Do you think I can do this during a lunch hour?

Replacing the cap and rotor on most cars is really easy. I've never seen a car where replacing the cap will change the timing (unless the spark gap has gotten so big)....

 

[RaiderJ]

Never messed with a Civic, but doing the timing on my S-10 Blazer was an easy 15 minute job. Just needed a timing gun and a ratchet.

 

[Eli]

As I hope has been said, changing the distributor cap and rotor will not change the timing of the engine.

 

[nakedfrog]

It wouldn't hurt to check your timing anyway