05-24-2011, 06:23 PM
A while ago I posted a question. It was about a curious alignment issue that I was having, where the distributor rotor was scraping the contact points inside the distributor cap.
Well, the problem is solved and we are all going to run into this issue; sooner or later.
Symptoms: (all or some my apply)
1- Rough idle; hunting...
2- Arc discoloration on the inside of the rotor cap
3- Bearing noise from the front part of the engine.
Here is the solution, the toothed cam belt in contained within a black, magnesium cover, front and back. Onto this cover, the distributor cap mounts.
As our cars get older the magnesium parts start to crumble away, almost like corrosion. When this happens toward the lower part of the engine, mostly from exposure to water, the covers no longer sit on the engine the way they were intended. This causes the distributor cap to sit crooked and is damaged by the rotor. In some cases, the revolving pulley will rub against the inside of the cover.
The Porsche 944 and 911 engines have the same problem with magnesium parts. Many aluminum parts did not have this issue, but Porsche continues to use magnesium parts.
The rear cover is over $600, the front is under $100. A cap/rotor pack is about $100 from Sunset. List on the rear cover is over $1,000. Labor about 2-3 hours at your PM. Next time you change/inspect your belts...take a look; it's only a matter of time.
Brian
Well, the problem is solved and we are all going to run into this issue; sooner or later.
Symptoms: (all or some my apply)
1- Rough idle; hunting...
2- Arc discoloration on the inside of the rotor cap
3- Bearing noise from the front part of the engine.
Here is the solution, the toothed cam belt in contained within a black, magnesium cover, front and back. Onto this cover, the distributor cap mounts.
As our cars get older the magnesium parts start to crumble away, almost like corrosion. When this happens toward the lower part of the engine, mostly from exposure to water, the covers no longer sit on the engine the way they were intended. This causes the distributor cap to sit crooked and is damaged by the rotor. In some cases, the revolving pulley will rub against the inside of the cover.
The Porsche 944 and 911 engines have the same problem with magnesium parts. Many aluminum parts did not have this issue, but Porsche continues to use magnesium parts.
The rear cover is over $600, the front is under $100. A cap/rotor pack is about $100 from Sunset. List on the rear cover is over $1,000. Labor about 2-3 hours at your PM. Next time you change/inspect your belts...take a look; it's only a matter of time.
Brian
