2000 civic dist cap bolt
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2000 civic dist cap bolt
I just purchased a 2000 civic dx . While looking at the distributor cap I noticed that one of the 3 hold down bolts is snapped off, nearest to the front of the car. It looks broke at the plastic cap so that if I take off the cap there will hopefully be a stub I can work with. How should I prep it? Maybe I can just grab it with pliers but I would rather proceed with a plan so I dont mess it up more. thanks
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Re: 2000 civic dist cap bolt
Do whatever you want to try to get it out. Some people just leave it hanging on with 2 bolts, but be aware that you can get water/moisture related misfires that way.
Worst case scenario: I've had to pull the distributor out in order to drill out broken bolts.
Not overly difficult, but tedious.
Worst case scenario: I've had to pull the distributor out in order to drill out broken bolts.
Not overly difficult, but tedious.
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If you have a little bit still sticking out, your are lucky and have a good chance of being able to get the broken screw out.
Remove the cap.
Use a little penetrating fluid on the screw (just a drop or two). Commercial stuff like "break free" work, but an old motorcycle trick that really works is use a 50/50 blend of acetone and ATF or acetone and brake fluid (MIL 5606 aircraft brake fluid works great).
Let it set about ten minutes.
Grab the stub with a good pair of locking pliers (vice-grips) and get a good solid locked bite on the stub.
Turn it out slowly being careful not to lose your grip on the stud.
It will probably come right out.
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If you can't get hold of the stud or the above didn't work, the next step is remove the distributor, drill the screw out, and chase the threads with a proper size tap. then reinstall the distributor.
Don't take the distributor out until you have set the engine to TDC on #1 cylinder. (see your manual - but the TDC mark on the crankshaft pulley should line up with the mark on the timing belt cover with the distributor rotor pointed to #1 spark plug wire).
If your car has a manual transmission, put it in Neutral or be sure that the car is not pushed forward or back before you put the distributor back in.
Remove the distributor cap, and note where the rotor is pointed. It should point to the spark gap that goes to the cap socket that has the #1 spark plug wire connected (wire that goes to the furthest plug - the one nearest the timing marks on the other end of the engine from the distributor.
Make sure the rotor is pointed at the same thing when you put the distributor back in.
Remove the cap.
Use a little penetrating fluid on the screw (just a drop or two). Commercial stuff like "break free" work, but an old motorcycle trick that really works is use a 50/50 blend of acetone and ATF or acetone and brake fluid (MIL 5606 aircraft brake fluid works great).
Let it set about ten minutes.
Grab the stub with a good pair of locking pliers (vice-grips) and get a good solid locked bite on the stub.
Turn it out slowly being careful not to lose your grip on the stud.
It will probably come right out.
----------------------------------
If you can't get hold of the stud or the above didn't work, the next step is remove the distributor, drill the screw out, and chase the threads with a proper size tap. then reinstall the distributor.
Don't take the distributor out until you have set the engine to TDC on #1 cylinder. (see your manual - but the TDC mark on the crankshaft pulley should line up with the mark on the timing belt cover with the distributor rotor pointed to #1 spark plug wire).
If your car has a manual transmission, put it in Neutral or be sure that the car is not pushed forward or back before you put the distributor back in.
Remove the distributor cap, and note where the rotor is pointed. It should point to the spark gap that goes to the cap socket that has the #1 spark plug wire connected (wire that goes to the furthest plug - the one nearest the timing marks on the other end of the engine from the distributor.
Make sure the rotor is pointed at the same thing when you put the distributor back in.
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