Distributor coverd with orange powder inside

[ProMan]

92 Accord EX. Dead while driving on highway.

No spark, ignition coil is working. Traced the problem to the distributor. When I took the cap off, there is a layer of orange powder on all internal components.

Anybody know what is this? Is something burnt inside the distributor? I doubt this is what caused the electronic components in the distributor to fail.

Any help appreciated.

[mpumas]

Could be rust. Maybe a bearing went out. Rust is conductive, so it could have caused the spark failure.

[BiGwiLLswiLLy]

its common on hondas..it is rust ur dizzy is bad...

[ProMan]

Well, I am not sure it's rust. It's powderish and orange, and there is nothing rusty in there.

[mpumas]

You can't see the bearing. It is down near where it connects to the cam. Unless you completely take it apart and hand spin it you might not be able to confirm it.

[vicchang]

Did you hear grinding noise from the distributor? If not, it's not the bearing. And it's unlikely the bearing will get rusted unless you didn't drive the car for 10 years.

The powder you mantioned may be generated by something burning. It could be metal powder burnt off by the electric arc between the rotor and the contacts. If you get too much powder stacked inside the distributor, it may got short circuited and cause engine mis-fire or non start.

Hope this helps.