Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP ***SOLVED

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
Post Reply
Stevenz
Posts: 15
Joined: Jul 12, 2017 5:19 AM
Location: Covina ca

Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP ***SOLVED

Post by Stevenz »

Have not seen this in any other post.

87 535i stick idles fine but hesitates with throttle cant pass 2000 rpm.

Traced to distributor problem.
Rotor was broken at the bottom.
Replace with know good rotor and cap ran clean for a second then went back to same problem
2nd rotor was damaged exactly as the first.

I believe the hesitation is linked to rotor but before i place a new one in the i would like to find the root of the damage.

Please help what should i check for?
There was a virbration at the distributor cap that i thought should not be there while running

All bolts where not overly tightened

Please help
Last edited by Stevenz on Sep 06, 2021 7:59 PM, edited 1 time in total.
Stevenz
Posts: 15
Joined: Jul 12, 2017 5:19 AM
Location: Covina ca

Re: Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP

Post by Stevenz »

Backfires as well
Thecar
Posts: 101
Joined: Feb 19, 2018 3:39 AM
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP

Post by Thecar »

The rotor has to be hitting something, right? Maybe the distributor is not screwing down squarely and is mis-aligned?
harrypalmer
Posts: 658
Joined: Jul 25, 2012 12:10 AM
Location: Denver, Colorado

Re: Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP

Post by harrypalmer »

Maybe the adapter that holds the rotor in place https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... 1311288027 is either missing the tiny dowel pin or it is deformed like mine was.

Scroll down a bit https://www.flickr.com/photos/109547372@N04/? sorry don't have time to properly upload specific photos to see the damaged part and the new part. That could explain why your rotor keeps breaking as it may be misaligned from the camshaft. BTW if you do end up buying said part #19 don't bother to purchase the Dowel pin as it already comes attached. Hope this helps. Good luck.

PS. To remove and replace the adapter (part#19) you will need to buy the seal in the pics as well. Get the Cortico brand as it is (visually to me) the exact equivalent of the BMW OE. Delring seemed not so good.
Stevenz
Posts: 15
Joined: Jul 12, 2017 5:19 AM
Location: Covina ca

Re: Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP

Post by Stevenz »

harrypalmer wrote: Aug 24, 2021 12:51 PM Maybe the adapter that holds the rotor in place https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... 1311288027 is either missing the tiny dowel pin or it is deformed like mine was.

Scroll down a bit https://www.flickr.com/photos/109547372@N04/? sorry don't have time to properly upload specific photos to see the damaged part and the new part. That could explain why your rotor keeps breaking as it may be misaligned from the camshaft. BTW if you do end up buying said part #19 don't bother to purchase the Dowel pin as it already comes attached. Hope this helps. Good luck.

PS. To remove and replace the adapter (part#19) you will need to buy the seal in the pics as well. Get the Cortico brand as it is (visually to me) the exact equivalent of the BMW OE. Delring seemed not so good.


Thanks for the info the adapter was not aligned properly whoever worked on it befor did not set pin in hole

Idles and revs great now.


Only problem is i took the whole exhaust off to check if it was the cat and nowni cant get it back on 🤣
Stevenz
Posts: 15
Joined: Jul 12, 2017 5:19 AM
Location: Covina ca

Re: Distributor rotor keeps breaking HELP

Post by Stevenz »

Thecar wrote: Aug 24, 2021 5:26 AM The rotor has to be hitting something, right? Maybe the distributor is not screwing down squarely and is mis-aligned?
It was the adapter behind the rotor not aligned properly 😒

Thanks
Post Reply