Car won't start with new distributor cap and rotor - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jdhariwal · 04-07-2012, 10:05 PM

So my S14 has been taking a while to start up lately, so i decided to replace the spark plugs, the wireset, distributor cap, and rotor.

I put the plugs and NGK wireset in , and realized that I had gotten the wrong cap and rotor(Hitachi when I should have gotten the Mitsubishi). I went back and swapped them for the right ones. I installed them and the car wouldn't start. It turns over, but isn't getting a spark. I tried every combo (new rotor+new cap, new rotor+old cap, old rotor+new cap, and old rotor+old cap). Car starts up fine when I use the old car and rotor.

I thought at first the new rotors electrode was too short and wasn't making contact with cap, so I tried the old rotor (which had a slightly longer electrode), and it still wouldn't start with the new cap.

So basically, car starts fine with the old stuff, not with the new stuff. And I'm sure nothing is damaged, I already went and swapped them for another set.

is the problem!? I'm annoyed that something so simple is being a pain in the ass. Its a stock KA.

Dro · 04-08-2012, 11:07 AM

Are you sure your wires are all hooked up right?

89JDM240sx · 04-08-2012, 11:17 AM

You probably have the firing order wrong for the wires... And is the timing straight

jdhariwal · 04-08-2012, 11:54 AM

Lol yes, I made sure the wires were hooked up right like 20 times. I swapped the old cap and rotor and new ones like 20 times, and it started up fine with the old parts.

If the timing were off, wouldn't the car not start with the old car and rotor as well then?

Jameskork · 04-08-2012, 08:17 PM

Idk how it is on 240s because I have an sr but I know on old distributor motors I used to work on sometimes you could accidentally put the rotor on 180* off. Maybe worth a check?

Steinkrunk · 04-08-2012, 08:20 PM

Are you sure actually needed the Mitsubishi? Maybe the hitachi would work? What you're describing is mind boggling. New parts should fix a problem, not make it worse lol.

jdhariwal · 04-08-2012, 11:04 PM

No, the Hitachi was a totally different design. Its the Mitsubishi for sure. And you can't rotate the cap, it only fits in a certain way. Yeah, this really is mind boggling.

Is it possible that my battery is crappy and isn't giving the alternator enough power to get it started?

nautical miles · 04-09-2012, 01:47 AM

lets see.... car ran before you changed parts and doesn't now. double triple check that you have the firing order right

even if they are all installed one spot to the left it won't run, it'll just crank.

Steinkrunk · 04-09-2012, 04:28 AM

Battery or alt shouldn't be the issue since you said once you put the old cap/rotor on it works. Timing/plug wire placement obviously isn't an issue since it starts and runs once you put the old one back on and have swapped it multiple times.

I would see if maybe you got a defective rotor, or maybe got the wrong rotor(parts place gave you s13 one or something). The cap shouldn't make a difference but you say it does so I'd check the differences between the one you have and your old one. Maybe the poles for each cylinder are alittle off and you'll have to move the rotor back/forward a tooth.

Are your spark plug wires fully engaging in the sockets of the new distributor? Have you tried using alittle dielectric grease?

kennedy8383 · 04-10-2012, 08:13 AM

Could be the coil or power transistor have gone bad..

bad dog · 04-11-2012, 05:59 PM

if i were you i would get another Mitsubishi cap and another rotor , take your old ones with you to the parts place , are they made in china now ?

also check that the new rotor goes down the same depth on the dist shaft as the old one , check the depth of the cap also against the old one where the cylinder pick ups are , how high they are .

04-07-2012, 10:05 PM	#1
jdhariwal Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 589 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Car won't start with new distributor cap and rotor So my S14 has been taking a while to start up lately, so i decided to replace the spark plugs, the wireset, distributor cap, and rotor. I put the plugs and NGK wireset in , and realized that I had gotten the wrong cap and rotor(Hitachi when I should have gotten the Mitsubishi). I went back and swapped them for the right ones. I installed them and the car wouldn't start. It turns over, but isn't getting a spark. I tried every combo (new rotor+new cap, new rotor+old cap, old rotor+new cap, and old rotor+old cap). Car starts up fine when I use the old car and rotor. I thought at first the new rotors electrode was too short and wasn't making contact with cap, so I tried the old rotor (which had a slightly longer electrode), and it still wouldn't start with the new cap. So basically, car starts fine with the old stuff, not with the new stuff. And I'm sure nothing is damaged, I already went and swapped them for another set. is the problem!? I'm annoyed that something so simple is being a pain in the ass. Its a stock KA.

04-08-2012, 11:17 AM	#3
89JDM240sx Zilvia Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Newark Nj Posts: 235 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You probably have the firing order wrong for the wires... And is the timing straight __________________ Boost makes me sooooooo happy!

04-08-2012, 11:07 AM	#2
Dro Leaky Injector Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: CT Age: 31 Posts: 55 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Are you sure your wires are all hooked up right?

04-08-2012, 11:54 AM	#4
jdhariwal Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 589 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Lol yes, I made sure the wires were hooked up right like 20 times. I swapped the old cap and rotor and new ones like 20 times, and it started up fine with the old parts. If the timing were off, wouldn't the car not start with the old car and rotor as well then?

04-08-2012, 08:17 PM	#5
Jameskork Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: LINY Age: 36 Posts: 38 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Idk how it is on 240s because I have an sr but I know on old distributor motors I used to work on sometimes you could accidentally put the rotor on 180* off. Maybe worth a check?

04-08-2012, 08:20 PM	#6
Steinkrunk Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rehoboth, MA Age: 36 Posts: 281 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Are you sure actually needed the Mitsubishi? Maybe the hitachi would work? What you're describing is mind boggling. New parts should fix a problem, not make it worse lol.

04-08-2012, 11:04 PM	#7
jdhariwal Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 589 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	No, the Hitachi was a totally different design. Its the Mitsubishi for sure. And you can't rotate the cap, it only fits in a certain way. Yeah, this really is mind boggling. Is it possible that my battery is crappy and isn't giving the alternator enough power to get it started?

04-09-2012, 04:28 AM	#9
Steinkrunk Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rehoboth, MA Age: 36 Posts: 281 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Battery or alt shouldn't be the issue since you said once you put the old cap/rotor on it works. Timing/plug wire placement obviously isn't an issue since it starts and runs once you put the old one back on and have swapped it multiple times. I would see if maybe you got a defective rotor, or maybe got the wrong rotor(parts place gave you s13 one or something). The cap shouldn't make a difference but you say it does so I'd check the differences between the one you have and your old one. Maybe the poles for each cylinder are alittle off and you'll have to move the rotor back/forward a tooth. Are your spark plug wires fully engaging in the sockets of the new distributor? Have you tried using alittle dielectric grease?

04-10-2012, 08:13 AM	#10
kennedy8383 Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kanada Age: 40 Posts: 208 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Could be the coil or power transistor have gone bad..

04-11-2012, 05:59 PM	#11
bad dog Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: az Posts: 90 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	if i were you i would get another Mitsubishi cap and another rotor , take your old ones with you to the parts place , are they made in china now ? also check that the new rotor goes down the same depth on the dist shaft as the old one , check the depth of the cap also against the old one where the cylinder pick ups are , how high they are .