Distributor for 1989 Corolla

[Yota89]

I have a 1989 Toyota Corolla (4AFE). For over a year, I 've been experiencing problems of starting the car in the morning. I would simply give her a few pumps (gas pedals) and she would start right up. A few days the car would not start; therefore, I took it to a mechanic to fix it. He said the problem was the distributor needed replacing. He stated to change the distributor and distributor cap would cost $500. I have a few questions:

1. How difficult is it to change the distributor? My dad told me that some type of timing has to be performed on the distributor to make it work correctly. Is this true? If this is true, can I perform the timing? I only have car maintenance experience (spark plugs, fuel filter, water pump, distributor cap).

2. Does the distributor cap require replacing when the distributor is replaced?

[freakinbox]

it doesn't require it... But I would do it! Same with the spark plugs at the same time.

[Ghostyman]

Originally Posted by Yota89

1. How difficult is it to change the distributor? My dad told me that some type of timing has to be performed on the distributor to make it work correctly. Is this true? If this is true, can I perform the timing? I only have car maintenance experience (spark plugs, fuel filter, water pump, distributor cap).

2. Does the distributor cap require replacing when the distributor is replaced?

1. Very easy to replace. Bolt off the old one, bolt on the new. Yes, the car needs to be timed. You can do it yourself. You will need a timing light ($10 and up from the store) to do so. That is also easy. It basically just consists of rotating the distributor until the timing mark on the crank pulley is in the correct position.

2. For all intents and purposes, yes.

How sure are you that the distributor is the problem? Does the car ever start?

[Mike Morris]

I can get you a used good distributer much cheaper than that. Easy to replace. I would run a new cap and rotor though which can be had for under 30 bucks

[toyotaspeed90]

caps for a 4af/4afe can't be purchased on their own.... they generally come attached the plug wires as that's how they come stock.....

the cap and wires should run around $45-65 depending on what company you go to..... a rotor should be less than $5.

$500? Your mechanic is on some serious crack.


generally a dizzy will come without a cap, sometimes with a rotor sometimes without.... I would try a cap and wires first, and then if need be buy the dizzy.... I can forsee that being upwards of $200 from a parts store as the coil and ignitor are built into them.

[viktord1]

Actually $500 for a new distributor sounds like a bargain to me. My mechanic wanted $800 to fix it on my camry!!!!!! So he must be on crack and heroin, and like extasy at the same time.

[toyotaspeed90]

Originally Posted by viktord1

Actually $500 for a new distributor sounds like a bargain to me. My mechanic wanted $800 to fix it on my camry!!!!!! So he must be on crack and heroin, and like extasy at the same time.

I recently bought a motor for $550.... had a dizzy on it

[Yota89]

1. "Very easy to replace. Bolt off the old one, bolt on the new"

This part of the equation seems very easy.


"You will need a timing light ($10 and up from the store) to do so. It basically just consists of rotating the distributor until the timing mark on the crank pulley is in the correct position."

I'm confused about this part of the equation. I don't know where the crank pulley is located. I can't check my Haynes manual because it's in my trunk at the mechanic's shop. What is the timing light used for???


"How sure are you that the distributor is the problem? Does the car ever start?[/quote]"

This is based the mechanic's assessment. The car doesn't start at all now. See the original post.

[REN69]

Ask your mechanic if he is "100% sure" if this is the problem, because if it comes back you want your money back.

I'm thinking fuel pump and not dizzy.

[viktord1]

Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90

I recently bought a motor for $550.... had a dizzy on it

hahaha if he offers me a new engine for $550 I'll just take that

[Ghostyman]

Originally Posted by Yota89

I'm confused about this part of the equation. I don't know where the crank pulley is located. I can't check my Haynes manual because it's in my trunk at the mechanic's shop. What is the timing light used for???

I'll be happy to give you more detailed instructions if you decide to definitely change it yourself. But here's a quick explanation:

- The crank pulley is attached to the crankshaft. The crankshaft comes out both sides of the engine. One side goes into the transmission and turns the wheels. The other side has a large pulley on it and drives belts that power things like power steering and the alternator. This is the crank pulley.

- The timing controls when the spark plug fires. Most Toyota engines like this are meant to be set to 10 degrees BTDC (Before Top Dead Center). This refers to when the spark fires relative to the piston position.

- The crank pulley has a small notch cut in it. There should be marks nearby (not on the crank) that indicate 10 deg BTDC and 0 deg.

- The timing light gets power from a spark plug wire and fires a beam of light at the same time the spark plug fires. If you aim it at the crank pulley while the car is idling, it will strobe a light and you will be able see where the notch on the pulley is.

- Rotate the distributor and use the timing light to look at the crank pulley. Adjust the distributor until the notch on the pulley is lined up with the mark that indicates 10 deg BTDC.


This might sound confusing but once you take a look under the hood you will be able to understand what is going on pretty quickly.

I'd encourage you to get the car back and do some more troubleshooting and then fix the problem yourself. At the very least you'll want to find another mechanic. $500 is way too much for this job in my opinion.

[Yota89]

I'd encourage you to get the car back and do some more troubleshooting and then fix the problem yourself. At the very least you'll want to find another mechanic. $500 is way too much for this job in my opinion.[/quote]

This might sound confusing but once you take a look under the hood you will be able to understand what is going on pretty quickly.
I'd encourage you to get the car back and do some more troubleshooting and then fix the problem 0yourself. At the very least you'll want to find another mechanic. $500 is way too much for this job in my opinion.

I'm going to get the car back today. I agree with you and everyone else that $500 is too steep to pay for a distributor and distributor cap replacement. The parts cost $250 total (Advanced Auto Parts) before you factor in the credit for bringing in your old distributor. I am going to ask him for full explanation of his rationale for knowing its the distributor. I'll keep you guys posted.

[toyotaspeed90]

the dizzy's in the 4afe go in like cake.... you can't screw it up (they are keyed to go in only 1 way).... if you don't know how to time a car you could easily ask a car-knowledgable neighbor and/or find a mechanic who can time it for very cheap (takes only a couple minutes). hmm... actually, I suck at baking so it's easier than cake....... mmm cake.

I would not think it's the fuel pump -- pumping th gas pedal does nothing for the efi setup when starting.... the only time it does is if you hold the pedal all the way down and flood start it.... generally this would mean the TPS is bad or out of alignment.

[freakinbox]

Originally Posted by viktord1

Actually $500 for a new distributor sounds like a bargain to me. My mechanic wanted $800 to fix it on my camry!!!!!! So he must be on crack and heroin, and like extasy at the same time.

I agree.. for my 4af toyota quoted me $900 just for the distributor...

[Ghostyman]

Originally Posted by freakinbox

I agree.. for my 4af toyota quoted me $900 just for the distributor...

Getting Toyota techs to work on a 20 year old car that's probably worth less than a grand is a silly idea. At this point in their life, these cars should be cannibalizing each other for spare parts from junkyards. I've got a sheet of plastic and duct tape in place of my sunroof.

freakinbox, we have the exact same car. Even the same fog lights.


Yota89, let us know when you get the car home. Depending on what the mechanic gives as a reason for diagnosing the distributor, you might want to do some testing on your own. There are only a few reasons a car won't start and it's usually pretty easy to narrow it down.