What are the "Distributors" in a car? Is it a wise idea to buy a 2nd hand car thats had problems with it?

Answer 1

I did, and the new distributor was about $200 installed. Have driven for 120,000 trouble free miles, since!

Distributors have bushings, rotate with the engine, distribute 30,000 volts at the rate of 1000 to 5000 per minute! This is a part that does a tough job, and is often left forgotten!

What was the car? We love to discuss some of the 'lemon' brands and marques, here!

Answer 2

The distributor is an electrical device that does much as the name suggests--it distributes electricity to your spark plugs from your ignition system.

Let us say, for example, that your car has a six cylinder engine. Each cylinder will have a spark plug and leading back from each plug you will have a wire or what is called, again aptly, a spark plug cable, that will connect each plug to the distributor.

Inside the distibutor there are electrical contacts for each plug wire and a rotor with a contact on the end of it. The rotor spins on a small shaft and when its contact aligns with each of the contacts attached to the plug cables electricity goes from it through the cable and makes that spark plug fire.

Now, as to whether or not it is wise to buy a car that has had problems, it really quite depends on the nature of the problems, the quality of repairs it has had, the type of car (some being more prone to problems than others), the car's overall condition and service history (has the oil been changed regularly, the antifreeze, etc.) and whether you are able to negotiate a discounted price if there are pending repairs.

For example, a car that has been overheated and may have blown a cylinder head gasket as a result would be something I would only consider if I were confident in my mechanical abilities and could effect the repairs myself inexpensively, and even then I would dicker pretty hard on the price. Likewise if the owner cannot produce records of routine oil changes, or if the car has transmission problems.

Many GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles, for example, that are equipped with V-6 and automatic transmission combinations seem, at least to me, to have premature transmission failures, often under 100,000 miles. So, if you are thinking say, Dodge Caravan, and it has had the trans replaced at 70,000 and now has 80,000, well I would consider that acceptable. If, on the other hand, it has not had the trans replaced and has that sort of mileage, I would think, well, a rebuilt trans will cost me $1,500 to $1,800 and I can expect to be paying that out in the next year or so, as it is about due, and calculate that into my offer.

I hope this has been helpful. If you have questions regarding a specific car, please feel free to contact me directly at [e-mail]. While I do not represent myself to be any sort of master mechanic, I have worked on a great many types of cars over the years, and have some knowledge of the foibles of various makes and models.

Answer 3

The Distributor does just what it says it distributes the ignition spark to the appropriate spark plug in the firing order.
If the vehicle has had problems with this before it should be replaced and that should take care of it.

Answer 4

Distributor cap is where your spark plug wires connect too. If it needs to be replaced it is no big deal, all cars have the replacing of the dist cap as preventative maintenance.