Distributor??

My lude has been feeling like it's been misfiring lately. And when i'm driving sometimes and i step on the gas, it hesitates and jerks bad for a split second. It does that over and over again. Sometimes i'll try to start it and it won't fire or will start quick and die. Also, when i pulled up to a stop sign the idle revved up slow and dropped down quick. Then saturday night i was driving and slammed on the gas and a huge cloud of black smoke came out.....smelled like oil bad...did the same for awhile while it was idling.... But it doesn't smoke now.....has a new timing belt and has been tuned up....the shop put it on the computer and said that it was definitely the distributor, but a want a second opinion before i fork out 300 plus bucks. Any ideas?
-92 lude si 129,000 miles

The thing that I see wrong with this picture is that a check engine light (CEL) was not on, and they somehow read a code for that.

Check the voltage on your spark plug and spark plug wires to make sure they aren't fouled, and make sure the firing order is correct.

How do you check the voltage on the plugs and wires? and how do u make sure the firing order is correct?

Black smoke=unbured fuel.

So would that be the distributor?

if the fuel isn't burned it comes out black smoke. if the distributor is missing that bad, then the engine will be running very rough. my daughters distirisbutor died, but it started making a loud noise. sounds like you may have injector/fuel problems.

if it's a h23 i'll sell you a used distributor for 150 plus shipping.

It IS making a very loud noise.

I would get me a distributor.

HMMM yeah i should probably...today at the chinese drive thru it felt like it was missing and about to die.

I would start with a cap and rotor before the entire distributer, also test plugs wires. Somthings fouling out there along the way, if it misses under hard acceleration its most likely a wire.

It misses under hard acceleration, but it also idles weird and feels like it's cutting out while it's idling. It's making a very loud noise in addition.

Spark plugs were just changed professionally like 2000 miles ago. I changed the wires like 6000 miles ago becuz the others were OEM. How do you check the wires tho?

I would start with a cap and rotor before the entire distributer, also test plugs wires. Somthings fouling out there along the way, if it misses under hard acceleration its most likely a wire.
mine did the same thing, somethin was coming undone in my distriputer, needed to cap and rotor i believe.....helped out right away

Hey mike... it seems that no one mentioned a clogged fuel filter. That could also cause these symptoms I would think... Or maybe a vapor lock or H20 n the lines. The smoke could be from trash burning up when it gets through the filter as well as the hesitation and acceleration failure. What do u think?

could be......hmmmmm.....i changed it like 6000 miles ago i wonder if it could get clogged that quick. I still dunno about the sound it's makin kinda like a ticking. thought it was the head at first but by the way i've been driving it, it woulda blown by now, and the mechanics were pretty confident it was the distributor. I'm gonna try a new cap and rotor and then go from there.

There is potental that moisture can get in the cap and cause it to corrode the contact points in the cap and on the rotor you will know if they are and can clean them with some lite sand paper or some steel wool and see if it improves. also make sure the distributer is tight if it has become loose and retarded it self (tipped towards the front of the car) I will created a miss and have very little power.

well that plug going into the engine pull it out and stick like a screwdriver in it (making sure the screwdriver has a plastic handle so u dont get shocked) have someone crank it, if ya see sparks theres power goin into it.

did ya get the distributor wet er somethin? ignition module burned out, or maybe ignition coil wires got damaged?

well that plug going into the engine pull it out and stick like a screwdriver in it (making sure the screwdriver has a plastic handle so u dont get shocked) have someone crank it, if ya see sparks theres power goin into it.

did ya get the distributor wet er somethin? ignition module burned out, or maybe ignition coil wires got damaged?


This method does work however make sure you hold it near a part of the car thats metel or it will ground on your hand, also I don't know of any screwdriver that hasn't shocked me.