Distributor Cap Questions

morch_66479

Hi,
What kind of maintenance is required for the Volvo 240 Distributor cap? Do they need cleaning or adjusting overtime?

Any advice would be great :-)

Here are some pictures of my mine:

paul0075

I usually replace the rotor and cap when I replace plugs and leads.

Be aware that Bosch no longer make the rotor with the small shaft opening (part number 1234332350). You have to rely on new old stock or another brand.

I got my most recent one from the UK, as it was half the price of anyone selling them here. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F322954991762

morch_66479

paul0075;c-142866 wroteI usually replace the rotor and cap when I replace plugs and leads.

Be aware that Bosch no longer make the rotor with the small shaft opening (part number 1234332350). You have to rely on new old stock or another brand.

I got my most recent one from the UK, as it was half the price of anyone selling them here. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F322954991762

I must buy a couple of these rotars.
Any recommendations as to where find leads? Should I be chasing genuine ones to have correct lengths?

paul0075

I bought the Bosch leads from their Australian web site

Major Ledfoot

paul0075;142866 wroteBe aware that Bosch no longer make the rotor with the small shaft opening (part number 1234332350). You have to rely on new old stock or another brand.

1-234-332-350 is the 1K ohm version. It's now known by Bosch as GB899.

Volvo B20 distributors either used the Bosch 1-234-332-215 (Volvo p/n 243903-2), or the 1-234-332-074 (Volvo p/n 240305-3) both of which have been replaced these days by the generic Bosch GB782 rotor, which has a 5K ohm resistance for interference suppression.

http://www.bosch-automotive-catalog.com/en_GB/product-comparison

morch_66479

I'll check it all out when I get home next. Thanks for the help and advice on this.

morch_66479

paul0075;c-142866 wroteI usually replace the rotor and cap when I replace plugs and leads.

Be aware that Bosch no longer make the rotor with the small shaft opening (part number 1234332350). You have to rely on new old stock or another brand.

I got my most recent one from the UK, as it was half the price of anyone selling them here. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F322954991762

Bought 2 rotors and have them sitting in my stock!!

Anthony

Notch

Of concern is that your timing belt is off by 1 tooth.
This is evidenced by the wear on the rotor, all to one side of centre and over the edge.
Wear/arcing should be either side of centre.

ramrod

Anthony;c-144207 wroteNotch

Of concern is that your timing belt is off by 1 tooth.
This is evidenced by the wear on the rotor, all to one side of centre and over the edge.
Wear/arcing should be either side of centre.

I'm pretty sure, he would know if that was the case.

morch_66479

Anthony;c-144207 wroteNotch

Of concern is that your timing belt is off by 1 tooth.
This is evidenced by the wear on the rotor, all to one side of centre and over the edge.
Wear/arcing should be either side of centre.

Interesting, but I'm guessing I would notice it when running? Missing or lumpy?
It runs fine now so assume it OK ?

Anthony

Bottom line it’s not optimal, and yes it will run OK, but that’s the best it can do, compared to spot on.
Technically the ignition coil energy event is still happening as it’s trailing off the edge of the rotor, so the spark plugs are missing out on the full energy transfer.
And a secondary non desirable event is some degree of arcing inside the cap as the high energy leaves the rotor edge and tries to go elsewhere (again evidenced inside the cap in the dark marks between poles).

carnut222

Anthony;c-144207 wroteNotch

Of concern is that your timing belt is off by 1 tooth.
This is evidenced by the wear on the rotor, all to one side of centre and over the edge.
Wear/arcing should be either side of centre.

Given his car appears to be a late model with LH2.4 (dummy distributor with no wires going to it from what I can see) then it may just need the distributor rotated a fraction to align the cap better to the rotor to centralise the firing. That’s my guess - not timing belt misaligned.

carnut222

Your cap and rotor look a bit corroded and I’d replace or you can clean with some sandpaper...they’re cheap enough (order in bulk from FCP!)

carnut222

carnut222;c-144336 wrote
Anthony;c-144207 wroteNotch

Of concern is that your timing belt is off by 1 tooth.
This is evidenced by the wear on the rotor, all to one side of centre and over the edge.
Wear/arcing should be either side of centre.
Given his car appears to be a late model with LH2.4 (dummy distributor with no wires going to it from what I can see) then it may just need the distributor rotated a fraction to align the cap better to the rotor to centralise the firing. That’s my guess - not timing belt misaligned.

Further to my comment, I assume alignment could be checked by rotating engine to #1 cyl top dead centre (align timing marks) then see if rotor points to TDC mark on distributor...if not then I guess best to rotate distributor a bit to align. I’m assuming it should line up, but is the engine more likely to run advanced or retarded most of the time, as that will then dictate where the most arcing occurs on the edge of the rotor.

carnut222

paul0075;c-142866 wroteI usually replace the rotor and cap when I replace plugs and leads.

Be aware that Bosch no longer make the rotor with the small shaft opening (part number 1234332350). You have to rely on new old stock or another brand.

I got my most recent one from the UK, as it was half the price of anyone selling them here. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F322954991762

Paul - I just searched on 93 240 distributor rotor and FCP shows this Bosch one 052905225C available so maybe it supersedes 1234332350? FCP is also showing genuine Volvo rotor 1389425 (with the Bosch 1234332350 cross-referenced). FYI only. May be of use. I assume these are both small (10 mm) rotor shaft vs. the earlier larger 14 mm shaft.