Here's a new one...ever heard of a ROTOR going bad?!? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TIMSPEED · 08-30-2003, 04:42 AM

Shyeah...I took my distributor apart today, to take the coil and module down to have them tested. (Because I was getting 12v+ at the top of the coil, but no spark to the plugs.)
So I take them down and have them both tested at THREE different places...all THREE places showed both the coil and module GOOD...so I think "Well, I'll try replacing the rotor, because it's only $2 and hell, you never know." So I buy a new rotor...take it home..sure enough, button it all back up...fires RIGHT up.
I've NEVER heard of a rotor actually going BAD...but I guess it did! It also was only like..4 months old (bout 3k miles on it all now)
So, I'm one happy camper now, all because of a $2 part. LOL!

**68 Stepside** · 08-30-2003, 04:46 AM

I have to say that doesn't surprise me. While I was living in Florida, I gave my bro-in-laws 88 Ramcharger a tune up. When I pulled the rotor, I noticed the piece that actually rubs on the "button" (for lack of a better term, it's 3:45am), had a hole burnt clear through it. Maybe your rotor just wasn't making good contact with the cap???

Either way, glad you've got her fixed.

TIMSPEED · 08-30-2003, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 68 Stepside
Either way, glad you've got her fixed.

Aye, as well we are both TJ's

*rage'nrat638* · 08-30-2003, 08:26 AM

theres is not much my engine has not chewed up and spit out...
and yep the rotor is one of those

**old Rusty C10** · 08-30-2003, 10:29 AM

rotors can and do go bad. and ive found that ones made by KEM suck the worst. If you get a new rotor get a Delco one as it wil last

**swervin ervin** · 08-30-2003, 01:16 PM

Not long after I bought my 85 back in 97, I went to the parts store to buy something (forget what it was), and on the way back home my truck just died. I was about 500 feet from my driveway and coasted the rest of the way.

I jump out and start looking. I check everything I could see. I pull the distributor cap off and the button was gone, with a big hole left where it used to be. I remove all the plug wires from the cap and take the coil out of the cap. The button was not there. I look into the distributor and the button was laying in the bottom.

I take off back to Advance and get a cap and rotor. Come back home and put it back together. It won't start. Damn. Finally after a while, I found one of the fusible links had burned out because of the rotor messing up. I replace the link and all is well again. To this day, this is the first time I've ever seen this happen to a stock vehicle.

Kybol · 08-30-2003, 05:12 PM

Mine had a hole burnt through before.

Nvbowtie · 08-30-2003, 05:26 PM

Well at least it was only a few bucks, better than a few hundred

jimfulco · 08-31-2003, 03:11 AM

They'll burn through if you have too much resistance in the plug wires or plugs. The electricity will follow the path of least resistance, & if the plugs are gapped too wide or the wires are going bad, the path is through the rotor to the distributor shaft. This rogue electricity is what eats up the advance weight pivots & causes that rusty coating on the mechanism.

08-30-2003, 04:42 AM	#1
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Here's a new one...ever heard of a ROTOR going bad?!? Shyeah...I took my distributor apart today, to take the coil and module down to have them tested. (Because I was getting 12v+ at the top of the coil, but no spark to the plugs.) So I take them down and have them both tested at THREE different places...all THREE places showed both the coil and module GOOD...so I think "Well, I'll try replacing the rotor, because it's only $2 and hell, you never know." So I buy a new rotor...take it home..sure enough, button it all back up...fires RIGHT up. I've NEVER heard of a rotor actually going BAD...but I guess it did! It also was only like..4 months old (bout 3k miles on it all now) So, I'm one happy camper now, all because of a $2 part. LOL! __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

08-30-2003, 04:46 AM	#2
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,690	I have to say that doesn't surprise me. While I was living in Florida, I gave my bro-in-laws 88 Ramcharger a tune up. When I pulled the rotor, I noticed the piece that actually rubs on the "button" (for lack of a better term, it's 3:45am), had a hole burnt clear through it. Maybe your rotor just wasn't making good contact with the cap??? Either way, glad you've got her fixed. __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

08-30-2003, 10:29 AM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	rotors can and do go bad. and ive found that ones made by KEM suck the worst. If you get a new rotor get a Delco one as it wil last __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

08-30-2003, 01:16 PM	#6
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Not long after I bought my 85 back in 97, I went to the parts store to buy something (forget what it was), and on the way back home my truck just died. I was about 500 feet from my driveway and coasted the rest of the way. I jump out and start looking. I check everything I could see. I pull the distributor cap off and the button was gone, with a big hole left where it used to be. I remove all the plug wires from the cap and take the coil out of the cap. The button was not there. I look into the distributor and the button was laying in the bottom. I take off back to Advance and get a cap and rotor. Come back home and put it back together. It won't start. Damn. Finally after a while, I found one of the fusible links had burned out because of the rotor messing up. I replace the link and all is well again. To this day, this is the first time I've ever seen this happen to a stock vehicle. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

08-30-2003, 05:12 PM	#7
Kybol Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 205	Mine had a hole burnt through before. __________________ -90 454ss http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289115843 -04 TRX450R -77 c-10 http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290506213 SOLD -82 c-10 SOLD -02 CRF450 SOLD

08-30-2003, 08:26 AM	#4
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	theres is not much my engine has not chewed up and spit out... and yep the rotor is one of those

08-30-2003, 05:26 PM	#8
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	Well at least it was only a few bucks, better than a few hundred __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe

08-31-2003, 03:11 AM	#9
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	They'll burn through if you have too much resistance in the plug wires or plugs. The electricity will follow the path of least resistance, & if the plugs are gapped too wide or the wires are going bad, the path is through the rotor to the distributor shaft. This rogue electricity is what eats up the advance weight pivots & causes that rusty coating on the mechanism.

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