Distributor Rotor Question - Just pull to remove??

[Judge2]

Although this question sounds too simple to ask, I was afraid I would break something, disable my car, and that would have been a disaster.

From the dealer, I bought new spark plug wire set, distributor cap, and rotor. The dealer wire set have the little clips to lock tightly on the distributor cap, I like how they fit. The distributor cap and rotor were Denso brand.

Using what I thought was more than normal force, I could not pull the rotor off the distributor housing. I even used a thick screwdriver and tried to gently pry it off. Although inspection of the new part, and all my experience tells me that the technique is to just pull the rotor assembly off, I was afraid that by using force I could break something, which would have been a disaster today.

So, should I have just pulled harder to get it off??

[hill8570]

The rotor's just a friction fit -- just wiggle it a little while pulling back towards the fender. Cursing loudly often helps loosen things up .

[Judge2]

Originally Posted by hill8570

The rotor's just a friction fit -- just wiggle it a little while pulling back towards the fender. Cursing loudly often helps loosen things up .

I should have thought of cursing loudly, then I'm sure it would have worked. Thanks for the advise and the laugh.

[Mike Gerber]

hill8570 and Judge 2,

I think the California spec rotor (he's in Californis) for the 5SFE engine (he doesn't say which engine is in the car) is a bit different. I got one accidently when I ordered one from an online Toyota dealer parts source. I don't remember if it had a screw on the side of it or not, but it might. I would check for a screw on side away from the direction the rotor points to. You may have to tap the starter a couple of times with the cap off to rotate the rotor, so you can see the back side.

Mike