Distributor noise. What's my problem? - Honda Prelude Forum

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-04-2002, 08:03 AM

Yesterday when I was going home from work I started hearing noises under my hood. I listened for the noise and found it coming from the distributor cap. I must have a bad bearing because I replaced the cap and rotor and it still makes the sound! Anyone have a good distributor?

$$

dflipmode · 05-04-2002, 09:42 AM

is it almost like a grinding sound?...if so...it might be the rotor...coz mine started having this sound and when i checked it, its the rotor not turning...basically stuck and causing this grinding noise....

dennis

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-04-2002, 09:47 AM

Well, I took the cap off and had my friend crank it over. The rotor was turning. My car still runs like it always has! No loss of power what so ever!

dflipmode · 05-04-2002, 09:57 AM

well the problem with mine was that it cranks alright but once the engine was turned on, then it starts having this grinding sound and i took it to a honda-specialist and he identified it right away just by looking that it was the rotor..after he disassembled the distributor he showed me the problem that the rotor that is turning the cam couldnt rotate all the way...it gets stuck at midpoint...so he replaced it...and it works fine afterwards...was it a loud grinding sound though?

dennis

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-04-2002, 10:08 AM

Yeah! At first I thought it was a belt that needed to be replaced! I wasn't sure but I can put my hand on the distributor cap and it doesn't feel right! It is pretty shaky.

fourthgeneration · 05-04-2002, 02:58 PM

Read my thread. Before it's too late.

dflipmode · 05-04-2002, 06:44 PM

exactly...see the first pic that he had that aligns to the camshaft...that is suppose to spin freely...my problem started with a screeching sound and afterwards i took it to a honda specialist and he identified it right away...mine wouldnt even move and he replaced that and its ok now...so dont drive the car..get it fixed right away or you are asking for big trouble...

dennis

fourthgeneration · 05-04-2002, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dflipmode
exactly...see the first pic that he had that aligns to the camshaft...that is suppose to spin freely...my problem started with a screeching sound and afterwards i took it to a honda specialist and he identified it right away...mine wouldnt even move and he replaced that and its ok now...so dont drive the car..get it fixed right away or you are asking for big trouble...

dennis

That part is supposed to spin freely? Mine doesn't even budge. He just replaced that little part? thats it? I just ordered a whole new distributor

. Oh well, my distributor had 180k on it, mine as well get a whole new unit.

Yes, definetly don't drive it like I did. Big trouble as soon as the bearing seizes. Your exhaust cam won't spin. I hope nothing is wrong with my engine. I'll just have to wait until my new distributor gets to me to find out...

dflipmode · 05-04-2002, 07:23 PM

Quote:

That part is supposed to spin freely? Mine doesn't even budge. He just replaced that little part? thats it?

well mine would just a little bit and then it will get locked...i ended up replacing the whole thing...he didnt just replace that little piece....but its working perfect now...that was like 4 months ago....

dennis

fourthgeneration · 05-04-2002, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dflipmode

well mine would just a little bit and then it will get locked...i ended up replacing the whole thing...he didnt just replace that little piece....but its working perfect now...that was like 4 months ago....

dennis

ahhh I see. I'm happy that I'm doing this myself

. I'm learning so much...

dflipmode · 05-04-2002, 07:31 PM

i know...i love working on my prelude....pretty soon i'm gonna take out the transmission and send my torque converter to levelten.com and upgrade and then i'm gonna start collecting parts for a custom turbo setup...but its gonna be awhile....

dennis

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-05-2002, 02:46 PM

Well guys, I don't know what for sure the problem is! After replacing the cap and rotor it made the noise for about two minutes and then quit! It hasn't made the noise sense. I don't know if for some reason the rotor was spinning and rubbing or what. I am not really driving the car and I am going to tear the distributor out to check! Thanks for the help and the links to the pic! It should help tremendously!

Andy

fourthgeneration · 05-05-2002, 06:22 PM

I'm replacing the whole thing... I'll tell you how it goes...

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-06-2002, 11:17 AM

Sweet! I can't imagine that it is too hard to do! I am interested in knowing tho

fourthgeneration · 05-06-2002, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by $$lude
Sweet! I can't imagine that it is too hard to do! I am interested in knowing tho

It's really not that hard to do I think, and I don't know too much about engines. Well, at least taking it off and inspecting it was very easy. Three 14mm bolts and disconnect the 2 harnesses is all it takes and it pops right off. Putting a whole new unit is just reversed. But of course I have to take it to the oil change place to get my timing correceted.