distrubutor

my mechanic said i need to invest in new spark plugs, wires, and im not sure if he said a new distributor or just the cap and rotor, if it is just the cap and rotor, is that hard to change? i wont need to like tamper with anything else? liek timing or anything? thanks !

Changing the cap and rotor is usually easy, though i haven't done a lot with the newer cars (i'm an old hot-rodder type myself.) You shouldn't have to do anything major with the timing as long as you put the new stuff on the same way the old stuff came off. It might need a lil fine tuning since it seems like there's always something to bumped off just a bit, but that's usually about it.

It's usually best to check your timing as part of the entire tune up list. Why buy all new parts, but the base of operation is wrong and your new parts last half as long as they should?

Note: plug gap, follow your emissions decal as to what the plug gap is! For some odd reason, a few years on the 3rd gens. are wrong in the service manuals (Chilton's and Haynes), plus the procedure to chekc and set the timing is on th e label as well.

ahh, i need something to measure the spark plug gap. what do u use to do that?

and about the cap n rotor and timing, the mechanic told me just to get that stuff. i dont think he said anything about timing.

thanks guys

go to advanced auto or some place like that for 99 cents you can get a sparkplug meter thing, its round the damn thing looks like a big ass fiftycent piece, you gap your sparkplugs with that thing, im sure if u walked in and asked they would pull one right out for you.

9 times out of 10 when buying plugs, they'll ask you if you need a gapper and any anit-sieze, yes to both questions.