distributor removal and TDC

[thaibuddie]

Hello,
I have an 1990 Camry V6 LE (2VZ-FE). Will not spark. Turns out there is oil in my distributor. I have read that (at least) it needs a dist. seal kit. My questions is:

Do I need to bring the motor to TDC prior to removing the dist?

Also, I have done the resistance tests at the dist. wiring harness and everything checks out OK, are there other tests that I should do to determine if the dist. is fried? (would hate to buy a seal kit to find I need a new dist).

THANK YOU!

[new echo owner]

As long as you mark everything, there shouldn't be any problem. It is possible all you need is the rotor, it burnt through and short to ground. Put a new rotor on and see if it runs.

N.E.O.

[thaibuddie]

so the dist. is actually keyed at this point? meaning it will only go in one way and there is no possibility to accidentally nudge the rotor when the dist. is out and end up one tooth off relative to the drive gear?

also, I had been planning on ordering a seal kit from kbox engineering. they list:

http://www.kbox.ca/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=575

2VZ-FE Distributor Seal Kit
Kit contents.
(1) Internal Bearing
(1) External O-ring
(1) Internal shaft oil seal
(1) Cap to Distributor gasket seal
(1) Shaft Pin
but instead I called my local toyota factory. they only list one o-ring as a seal. do i need the whole kit? or just the smaller o-ring? what is the internal shaft oil seal (seems like I would need this)

I really don't want to have to do this twice, so any help is appreciated.
thanks!

[Doctor J]

The distributor shaft fork goes only one way but it is easier to install if you mark the rotor relative to the distributor housing

[blu_91_cam]

Hey man I asked about the exact same thing a while back. I actually had my mechanic install it so dont really have much in put on the install but when I asked the guys on the forums and they suggested in additional to the kit I also get the o-ring http://www.kbox.ca/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=576

[thaibuddie]

Is there any way to get toyota part numbers on these seals / o-rings?

I thought I would get the parts faster if I ordered from the factory. But the special needs employees that work there told me I only needed one o-ring...and now that I have the dist. off I can clearly see that this would be the external o-ring (not what is leaking).

Or do I just have to order from kbox and wait?

FYI - for anyone interested, the rotor was bad and shorting directly back to the shaft - thus no spark.

THANK YOU!

[new echo owner]

The O-ring you can get from the dealer, but the shaft seal, you will have to go aftermarket. You need to buy a housing for the shaft seal leak from Toyota.

I hope you replaced the cap too.

N.E.O.

[thaibuddie]

Please look at these pics, an I paranoid? (it's not very much oil in the dist.)

OIL IN DIST - PIC ONE

OIL IN DIST - PIC TWO

I had told a reputable mechanic and he said not to worry about it HOWEVER, this rotor failure and the subsequent discovery of (minimal) oil in the dist. was the aftermath of an overheat.

The main reason I am now concerned about the oil is that it looks fresh (clean) and I had just changed the oil about 300miles prior to this incident, which leads me to believe that even though the oil likely did not cause the rotor failure, it is a new issue of which I do not know the magnitude since I was only able to drive the car 15 blocks after cool-down following overheat.

I am sure the best thing to do is a seal kit, however I really need to get this car back on the road (family wagon). Any input is appreciated.

N.E.O - I have no idea what this "housing for the shaft leak" is, and I am confident that the dealership will not either. And yes, the cap has been ordered (thanks for the friendly reminder though).

[new echo owner]

To correct the shaft seal leak, you will have to replace the dist housing if you want to get your part from Toyota. As far as I know the seal is not serviceable from Toyota.

It looks like you have discover the screw that was holding the rotor in place.

If you are concern with the oil in the distributor, clean it off and see how long it take for the oil to re-appear. It isn't much there, and it probably won't get you stranded because of it, but I am pretty sure it is not related to your overheating concern.

Actually, I would be more concern with why the engine overheat.

N.E.O.

[thaibuddie]

roger NEO, thanks for your help! and yes I did discover the screw holding the rotor in place - provoking a curse or two ...until I realized what it was that I just broke (and knew that I would be replacing it anyhow).

I know the overheating is a separate issue, but now that I am here (the dist. that is) does this leak look new? I am only asking because I do not want to wait (for the seal kit) to repair, but at the same time it was not fun gaining access to this dist. (my other car's a 73 DATSUN 510 - don't get much easier than that) and I don't want to have to do her again. anybody?

[new echo owner]

Actually no, if it is fresh oil, it would look clearer and even lighter in color than what is shown on the picture, pull the dip stick out and compare it.

N.E.O.