When did cars stop using distributor caps?
2008
Do newer cars have distributor caps?
Many modern cars have no distributor at all. The ignition is triggered by toothed timing wheels spinning with the crankshaft, which is much more accurate than points. Then there are individual coils for each cylinder, fired by the engine management computer. Some engines share coils between two cylinders.
Who invented the distributor?
This ignition was developed by Charles Kettering and was considered a wonder in its day. Atwater Kent invented his Unisparker ignition system about this time in competition with the Delco system.
Do vehicles still have distributors?
Thankfully, today’s cars no longer have distributors. Modern engines use individual coil packs, which are far less complicated, instead. But there are still countless vehicles on the road with a distributor lurking under the hood. And sometimes those distributors require replacement.
Why did cars stop using distributors?
With the electronic ECUs the distribution and making and breaking were all electronically switched – meaning no more mechanical parts to wear. ECUs are generally good for the life of the car making them maintenance free. By the very late 1990’s mechanical distributors were pretty much gone from all cars.
How do you check for a bad distributor?
How to Tell If You Have a Faulty Distributor
- Check the Distributer Cap. Often the distributor cap is suspect.
- Check the Contact Points. Inspect the condenser; the engine will not function if it is broken.
- Check the Arc.
- Tools and Materials.
- Crank the Engine.
- Remove the Old Distributor.
- Set the Point Gap.
- Set the Distributor.
Why do distributors go bad?
What Causes the Corrosion on a Distributor Cap? One of the main reasons for distributor cap problems is corrosion on the cap. When you go to clean your distributor, you may find an odd build-up on the cap. This could either be grime on the end of each spark plug wire terminal or corrosion on the the distributor cap.