How does my distributor work?

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How does my distributor work? - Aug 86 190E
Topic Started: Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:16 pm (40 Views)
13B	Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:16 pm Post #1
Member Posts: 88 Group: Members Member #3,939 Joined: March 11, 2009	I got the cheap 1986 190E home (cheap because it wouldn't start but I am trying to avoid starting a new "My car won't start" thread), and noticed things in the ignition dept are a lot different to my 1985. The coil is small and square The ignition switching unit seems twice as big and has more connections on it The distributor is empty (save for the rotor button) and has no vac advance mechanism If the distributor is empty, what is telling the coil / switcher when to fire??? Pic below shows empty distributor, oversized swiching unit, and a traditional coil which is just there for testing purposes, the normal one is disconnected underneath. So how's it all work? BTW the rotor button was cracked and broke up in my hand as I removed it so I'm pretty sure thats why the car didn't run, just waiting to get my hands on another now, if someone could tell me the bosch part number or other car which uses the same rotor. Cheers, Ian in Aus.



highwayman	Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:47 pm Post #2
Member Posts: 106 Group: Members Member #2,464 Joined: March 27, 2008	I�m not 100% sure about this, so if I�m wrong please correct me he who knows more. The distributor hasn�t got anything to do with the timing of the spark, it just forwards it to the right spark plug. The timing of the spark comes from the switching unit which gets it�s signal from (I have no idea) some TDC- sensor on the engine (or the CPU?). The coil doesn�t do anything but turn a 12V spike into a few thousand volts. Hope this helps!



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