No fire at the plugs, why?

[marsala4]

94 Prizm, 130k miles, 1.6L, three speed auto,, new ngk plugs, cap, rotor, plug wires. I am not getting fire to the plugs, replaced the coil with one from another distrbutor, still not fire.

What could be causing the no fire issue, all suggestions welcome.

[1jzdreamer]

I have had the ignitor fail. Its inside the distributor, id swap another distributor and see what happens. Usually people don't have success replacing individual components in these distros and end up buying a used assembly.

Any traces of oil inside the old cap?

[marsala4]

I believe ther was a little oil on the bottom side of the cap. I just put a new valve cover gasket w/ plug tube seals as well. Would this oil be coming past the O ring on the dist.

also, I found a used dist for 85 bucks, Advance auto parts sells the igniter for more than you can buy a new dist. new dist = 188.00

[tacosteelersman]

Get an exploded view of your distributor, thats what I did for my 95 Tacoma, low and behold the dizzy has an oldfashioned condensor in it. I changed the condensor and my Tacoma came back to life.

[1jzdreamer]

The oil comes through the brass bushing inside, the o-ring is the outer seal to the head, then the brass bushing is the seal around the shaft into the dizzy. If its seeping, id swap it out as you risk killing new components you put in with it. Thats how 2 of mine have failed.

[marsala4]

Thanks guys, I will try both and see what happens. Will post results tomorrow. I have an old dist, I will try the condenser and I also own a 94 corolla but it has a 1.8L. I will check to see if they are the same and try swaping if they are.

[marsala4]

Update, I did not try the condensor, I found a used reman at a junk yard and replaced the dist. Problem solved. Thanks for your input.

[Nusdogg]

Glad you got it fixed!

I was just gonna say check the igniter or swapped for a known running distributor.