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Does replacing distributor O-ring require re-timing?

I want to pull the distributor and replacing the leaking shaft o-ring on my 1996 Camry wagon (four-cylinder).

While I can certainly see that retiming the engine after replacing the distributor couldn?t hurt, I?m wondering if it is required.

The distributor housing only bolts onto the engine block one way and the shaft end can only seat internally two ways -- the way it was when you took it out and 180-degrees reversed. If I am careful to not rotate the shaft (or anything else) when removing/replacing the o-ring, won?t the timing be unaffected when putting the distributor back in?

I ask not because I?m lazy, but because I don?t have the tools to do the timing. I guess I?ll have to buy the tools if re-timing is necessary, but if it is not, I?ld rather not.

FWIW: the last car I timed was my 1950 Plymouth Deluxe back in the early ?80s. A lot more space under the hood! :D

Reply to
Ladd
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I don't know. If you get no answer here, possibly try a Haynes or Chilton Manual at your local library.

Reply to
timbirr

My 1986 Camry had a slotted adjustment as part of the mounting hold down screw. Be aware that the distributor shaft gear is a helix gear and will cause the distributor to rotate as you attempt to seat the distributor.

You will need to mark the adjustment and check the position of the distrib rotor after it is seated.

Good Luck.

Ladd wrote:

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Reply to
marvinshos

Thanks for the tip and taking the time to pass it on.

I have the factory service manual and the section about the distributor details removal, complete dissassembly to the distributor?s component parts, reassembly and reinstallation whereby re-timing the ignition system is required. That makes sense to me as you have changed/altered/rotated/boogered everything concerned. If one is just pulling the distributor, changing the o-ring and putting the unit right back in having carefully not rotated anything, I can see the possibility that the timing will have been unchanged. Or at least changed so little that the computer can make the appropriate adjustments.

Perhaps the Haynes or Chilton manual will address the differences between a simple remove/replace and and complete rebuild.

Ladd

Reply to
Ladd

The Haynes and Chiltons tend to (not always) address some of the things that the factory manual assumes you should know already. Good luck.

Reply to
timbirr

"" wrote: > The Haynes and Chiltons tend to (not always) address some of > the things > that the factory manual assumes you should know already. Good > luck.

I?ll have to check them out.

I admit to being a little suprised that the answer to this question isn?t easily found -- Camrys are noted for their distributor shaft o-ring leaks, so I thought it would be a common replacement procedure that lots of folks have done.

Reply to
Ladd

somehow my prior reply didn't appear.

Obviously the distributor shaft has to be in the correct position, but the distributor housing also has to go back in the identical same orientation because it houses the pickup coils in relation to the trigger on the shaft. In theory, if you can reinsert the distributor exactly as removed, timing will not change. I tried scribing with an awl, and also indexing with a paint mark but due to parallax error and not being able to realign exactly, wound up resetting the timing anyway. Not hard to do. The Haynes manual will tell you which two pins to jump with a paper clip in the diagnostic port under the hood. The "check engine" warning light on the dash will flash, and then you can manually set the timing with a light, having disabled the computer timing advance. Mine was 10 deg. BTDC This should be too obvious to state, but, to adjust the timing, you loosen the hold down bolt and rotate the distributor housing slightly. (against the direction of rotation to advance, with the direction of rotation to retard - that part hasn't changed since 1950.)

Reply to
Daniel

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