Do automatic cars have distributors in the engine?

Question

Does an Olsmobile Cutlas Ciera SL have a distributor?

Answer 1

Automatics have to do with the transmission. Distributors have to do with electrical distribution. Newer cars have electronic systems though.

Answer 2

Automatic refers to the type of transmission, automatic shifting or manual shifting requiring a clutch that you release with that third pedal that an automatic shifting transmission doesn't have. Your Olds Cutlass Ciera does not have a distributor. It uses a distributorless ignition which is electronic. This is the part that transforms the energy high enough to make a spark in the spark plug at the right time. The other type of ignition to which you referred had a distributor and a single coil to make a spark. the distributor had a rotating shaft that would send the spark energy to the appropriate cylinder at the right time.

Answer 3

Having an automatic transmission has nothing to do with having a distributor.

Most cars have distributors, but sometimes they work in different ways. The old model T had four coils, and all the distributor did was switch them on and off in the correct sequence.

Some new cars have a system very similar to the Model T except it's linked to the car's computer to fire the spark precisely when needed.

All other gasoline cars have distributers in the conventional sense using only one coil.

Answer 4

No Distributor on that GM car... The 2 or three ignition coils bolt over the electronic ignition module Which uses a crank angle sensor and engine computer to adjust the spark. Four cyl. I-tek motor the two coils are on the back of the motor with sensor and module built in. V-6 engine the module and 3 coils are right out in front where all the plug wires are, the crank sensor behind the crank pulley

Answer 5

Depends on the age of the car. All older model cars had ignition distributors. Newer cars use computers. The computer uses different sensors to control the timing and take the place of distributors. Pops

Answer 6

It depends what year of Olds Ciera. If it was made pre 1987, it probably has a distributor. If it was made post 1987 it might not have a distributor. Like i was saying, i gotta know what year it was made.

Answer 7

if i knew the year of the car i could have told you ,,i own a repair shop,,and i have worked on a lot of the cutlass,,some of the older ones had distributors,,but it being automatic ,,or standard,,doesn't have anything to do with it,,they year of it determines that,,most all small gm products,,after 95 don't have distributors in them,if someone told you that it being a standard or automatic determined whether or not it has a distributor in ,,they was wrong,,if you will give more info,,the next time you ask a question,,me or who ever try,s to answer it,,can answer it a lot better,,if we know the year,,and engine size of it,,good luck with it,,i hope this help,s.,anyone who tells you it does or don't without knowing the year of it,,is wrong,,you have to know the year to determine this.

Answer 8

some of the newer cars are distributerless. if you know what a distributor cap looks like check under the hood. if you don't then check you'r cars manual in the tune-up section. if there isn't a manual drive it to an auto parts store, the guy ( or girl ) behind the counter can tell you. If it doesn't run call the auto parts store and give them the make model and year of your car and they can tell you. :)

Answer 9

No! your Ciera has a DIS. Distributorless Ignition System.
Its electronic with a coilpack bolted to the engine block.

Answer 10

yes, looks kinda like an octopus.
The distributor is the device that sends a spark through the spark plug wires so that ignition can occur.