I have a new to me 2000 Integra I just bought and I've been going through it replacing all the easily replaceable parts I can since I do not have a maintenance history on it. However, one of the items - the rotor inside the distributor cap - doesn't show any easy way for me to remove it. I know it is held in place by an allen bolt (according to Chilton's manual), but I cannot see nor access the bolt in question. The whole outside and backside of the rotor is covered by a plastic shield of sorts, which I could remove to get to the bolt if I bent it forcefully enough to get out of the way. I would rather not do that though.

Anyone know what I am missing here? Or am I not missing anything, and I just need to unbolt the distributor itself to be able to get the rotor off (surely not!)?

 

First off, it should be a phillips head screw not an allen bolt if I remember correctly. But anyway, take off the distributor cap. Then you crank the engine counter clockwise (when viewing from the crank pulley) until the screw shows itself in the little opening of the plastic shield. NOW, I would highly recommend using a T-handle screw driver for this. Reason being is these little screws can sometimes get really stuck in there and being a phillips head and not a hex bolt, you can round down the corners a lot easier. Using a T-handle makes it easy to really push in on the screw while getting more torque when you turn it. If it's stuck at all, you really won't be able to get it with a regular screw driver (at least from my experience).

 

 

be sure to use the exact philips head bit and you might want to let it soak in pb blaster for a day or two first. the rotor loves rust welding to the shaft, even after i got the screw out, the rotor was stuck on there.

 

get a helms manual, you can find them online, its the manual they have at the dealer

 

My rotor didn't have a set screw either, just pull really hard and it'll pop off.

 

what car ?

 

1999 Integra

 

X2 remove cap, rotate engine so screw is accessible, and remove. rinse and repeat

 

 

>Lift front of car or front drivers side
>pull front driver wheel off
>clear path to crank pulley
>lot of extra work?
>wat?

 

My man, rotating the crank is very easy. If you still have the power steering pump attached just rotate the crank through that. It's a super accessible spot. If not, then pop off the driver's side wheel and there's a spot in the wheel well lining to stick a 6" extension through right to the crank pulley bolt. Or, if you don't want to do either or those, just keep starting your engine until the little screw shows itself. Then PB blaster and a T handle to get the screw out.

 

Why not just mark the position and take the distributor off? It's 3 bolts...

 

Because even though that's easy, cranking it is even easier...

 

That was my first thought, but I was reticent to pull the distro for fear of having a timing issue once I got done stabbing it. I put "read up on the likelihood of creating a timing problem by pulling and reinstalling the distributor" on my mental 'to-do' list in anticipation of trying this approach later, but so far I haven't worked my way down the list that far yet.

Cranking it is surely easier, but pulling everything but the kitchen sink off the car to get to the crank bolt surely isn't. That was my mindset up until now, though I am wavering on it seeing as others have suggested it is not too bad to go through the wheel well. I shall have to take a look at that route when I've got the wheel off and replacing the brake fluid later tonight.

 

 

 

Not a hazing ritual, the distributor really is simple. The distributor alignment isn't as important as you might think, the ECU can adjust the timing on it's own so clocking the distributor just sets a baseline for the ECU to start from. If you mark it with a fine tip pen or sharp pencil and then line the marks up as close as possible when putting it back on you'll be fine, I've done it many times.

Or if you don't want to pull the distributor off, do like jdmark1 said and put a wrench on the power steering pulley and turn it, or if you don't want to do that for some reason, the crank pulley bolt is easy to get to as well if you take off the driver side wheel and stick a socket on it. It really is that simple.

This is an old Honda motor we're talking about, the only way you can really **** up that badly is by doing some seriously stupid **** like running water through your crankcase.

 

X2^^ I get that you don't want to "mess anything up" but's this is super simple stuff. Just stick a GD 19mm wrench on the P/S pulley and rotate the crankshaft.... Or jack the car up, pop off the wheel and BAM! crank pulley bolt is right there. It's much easier than taking off a kitchen sink or whatever you were saying there.

 

alright, I guess I can trust y'all. after all, wasn't it Abe Lincoln who once said, "If you read it on the internet, you can believe it!"

And if there's one person I've always tried to emulate my life after, it's good ole Honest Abe!

thanks for the tips,
Nuke

 

 

 

That's the metal center of the rotor seized on to the shaft I assume. Did you manage to get the screw out?

 

Yup, remember what I said about soaking it in PB Blaster for a day or two before trying to take it off? Lol I guess not....

 

You are correct and yes. Getting the screw out was easy-peazy hooker-sleazy. Getting the rotor to turn loose of the shaft was less easy...there was a screw driver, a rubber mallet, some zip ties, and then things went all red and I kinda blacked out; When I came to, the rotor had snapped off, sans its bottom portion, and I still have not figured out where it landed. Ultimately I was able to extract that little sucker, but only after uttering some truly foul cuss words and threatening the car with a pick axe.

All in all, it was a win for me...not my prettiest win ever, but a win nonetheless!

I hit it with some of that stuff, but not for 1 or 2 days..more like 1 or 2 hours.

But I was very clear when I shot it, "Listen up Dirtbag! You've got 1 hour, ONE, to loosen up, so get busy loosening!!"

Clearly it didn't believe me, or maybe it thought I wouldn't follow through. Well, I reckon I showed that stinking distributor rotor how the cow eats the cabbage around HERE!

A-HAHAHAHAHA!!! NEXT!

Quick, bring me something else to fix before I get too drunk!!

*sigh*

too late, I'm already there...

thanks again for the mechanickel assistance,
Nuke, OUT!