The distributor cap and rotor are two essential pieces that distribute electrical current to the spark plugs. The distributor cap connects to the spark plugs directly using a spark plug wire. The number of plug wires connected depends on the amount of spark plugs that are in the engine. For example, an eight cylinder engine will have eight plug wires.
The rotor is designed to spin inside of the distributor cap, just missing the terminals inside the cap. A worn or damaged rotor can cause your vehicle to run rough, or even stall completely. The rotor is rotating at the same speed as the camshaft which also happens to be 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft.
A problem occurs when the contacts inside the distributor cap can become dirty and worn. It is best to replace the distributor cap and rotor every tune up to ensure the contacts are clean to transmit power to each spark plug. The distributor cap and rotor generally have few problems other than worn connections that results in the cap needing to be replaced. There are numerous brands of distributor caps and rotors that are available. It is your decision to select the appropriate brand based on your individual wishes. However, when selecting the distributor cap and rotor it is best to select an OE (original equipment) replacement for proper performance and durability. If a misfiring problem has occurred and you cannot determine the cause of it, it is advisable to inspect the distributor cap and rotor for corrosion. Worn ignition components can cause the vehicle to misfire which leads to wasted fuel, rough running and stalling. Some early distributor ignition systems featured a point set and condenser. A solid state system was later adopted.
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