Distributor
Cap
The distributor
cap is a device in the ignition system that distributes electricity
from the ignition coils to the spark plug wires at the right timing.
It is usually made of hard plastic and a small amount of copper. Inside
the distributor cap is the distributor rotor, which rotates as it receives
current from the ignition coils and passes it on to the copper portion
of the cap, which then passes it on to the spark plugs.
A distributor rotor
also has a metal component which allows it to connect with the cables
of the spark plugs of the cylinders in the engine. The rotor is mounted
on the upper end of the distributor shaft, where two screws attach the
rotor to a plate on top of the shaft. The rotor has built-in locators
that fit snugly into the holes in the plate so it will not fall off.
A centrifugal advance
mechanism drives the rotor as it turns on the camshaft. Because the
distributor cap is bombarded with high voltages all the time, it must
be inspected and replaced regularly. Otherwise, carbon tracking will
develop in the cap and might cause misfires in the engine. Auto experts
suggest replacement once in two years or every 15,000 miles of distance
traveled. Owners of older vehicles should be more wary, as their caps
and rotors are more prone to wear out.
The best way to
check if your distributor caps and distributor rotors are working properly
is at night, because you can easily see the lights that they give off
from the current. You should not touch them, though, because they have
as much as 20,000 volts running through them.
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