[SOLVED] Distributor problem

Nutbuster · 06-10-2008, 09:03 AM

Guys I'm preplexed. As a reminder this is a '99 Suburban, 5.7 motor, 4-wheel drive, 280K!
I needed to replace the pick-up coil on my distributor and the Torx screw heads stripped out from my driver. While the truck was in the shop getting the oil pump replaced I had the mechanic pull the distributor and use vice grips to get the old screws out. I got the truck back and it drove fine for a couple of days then the timing went bad on it. I got it back to the same shop and the owner calls me and says the distributor is bad, that under the rotor button it is spinning and that is why the timing is jumping. Now the truck ran like a dream before I had this guy pull the distributor and I've owned a lot of vehicles in my day but I've never heard of a distributor going bad. He seems to be having a problem finding another distributor, (trying not to go to the dealer for one because of the expense), so since he is having a hard time finding one, I'm thinking distributors don't just go out. Could the guy have done something to damage the distributor when he had it out?
Thanks for your input and ideas.

wrench97 · 06-10-2008, 10:28 AM

They do have bushings that wear out. Was the old pick up coil damaged
at the point where the stator spins past it? And I do remember the older ones having problems in the mechanical advance unit but I'm not sure you have that on a 99 as that would be OBDII and timing is controlled by the ECU Do you have any NAPA stores near you? They used to have a good product range.

Nutbuster · 06-10-2008, 10:38 AM

The pick-up coil was original and I wanted to replace it because of the mileage. I'm going up to the shop in a bit to get the truck and see what is up with the distributor. I think I may have gotten screwed by the shop messing up something and me having to pay for it.

wrench97 · 06-10-2008, 10:49 AM

It would be nice to know which part is spinning free it might be the stator got knocked loose on the shaft by the vice grips kind of an unusual tool to use when working on a distributor.

Nutbuster · 06-13-2008, 02:26 PM

Update. The metal plate that the rotor button screws onto that spins thru the pick-up coil had shifted on it's axle, or the rotor of the distributor. Put a new distributor in it and scan tuned it, all's fine.
Marking problem solved although I still think the kid turned this part while he had the unit out to remove the old pick-up coil, but ya know ya just can't prove it so ya just pay the price and move on.
281,500 and running smooth as silk!

06-10-2008, 09:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nutbuster Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 58 OS: xp	[SOLVED] Distributor problem Guys I'm preplexed. As a reminder this is a '99 Suburban, 5.7 motor, 4-wheel drive, 280K! I needed to replace the pick-up coil on my distributor and the Torx screw heads stripped out from my driver. While the truck was in the shop getting the oil pump replaced I had the mechanic pull the distributor and use vice grips to get the old screws out. I got the truck back and it drove fine for a couple of days then the timing went bad on it. I got it back to the same shop and the owner calls me and says the distributor is bad, that under the rotor button it is spinning and that is why the timing is jumping. Now the truck ran like a dream before I had this guy pull the distributor and I've owned a lot of vehicles in my day but I've never heard of a distributor going bad. He seems to be having a problem finding another distributor, (trying not to go to the dealer for one because of the expense), so since he is having a hard time finding one, I'm thinking distributors don't just go out. Could the guy have done something to damage the distributor when he had it out? Thanks for your input and ideas.

06-10-2008, 10:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,320 OS: XPSP2	Re: Distributor problem They do have bushings that wear out. Was the old pick up coil damaged at the point where the stator spins past it? And I do remember the older ones having problems in the mechanical advance unit but I'm not sure you have that on a 99 as that would be OBDII and timing is controlled by the ECU Do you have any NAPA stores near you? They used to have a good product range.

06-10-2008, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nutbuster Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: Distributor problem The pick-up coil was original and I wanted to replace it because of the mileage. I'm going up to the shop in a bit to get the truck and see what is up with the distributor. I think I may have gotten screwed by the shop messing up something and me having to pay for it.

06-10-2008, 10:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,320 OS: XPSP2	Re: Distributor problem It would be nice to know which part is spinning free it might be the stator got knocked loose on the shaft by the vice grips kind of an unusual tool to use when working on a distributor.

06-13-2008, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nutbuster Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: Distributor problem Update. The metal plate that the rotor button screws onto that spins thru the pick-up coil had shifted on it's axle, or the rotor of the distributor. Put a new distributor in it and scan tuned it, all's fine. Marking problem solved although I still think the kid turned this part while he had the unit out to remove the old pick-up coil, but ya know ya just can't prove it so ya just pay the price and move on. 281,500 and running smooth as silk!