On the way home from jumping the starter with a screwdriver 10 days ago
i was experiencing a very high idle when coming to a stop at traffic lights.
It didn’t seem like a stuck accelerator cable, and considering the uncertainty of being able
to get it started again at the side of the road, we just made our way home through LA rush-hour traffic.
So now that its starting up properly in the driveway, i was looking further into that acceleration phenomena
and consulted with Miguel at MGM GMC who told me to take a look at the distributor, and see if the weights
are snapping back, or if they’re frozen up with rust, etc.
Well, the little “weights” on top seem to move just fine, but lo and behold, the part just underneath it
(centrifuge advance?) feels really gummy, and needs to be manually moved back by hand.
Comparing these to the distributor on the ’78 Eleganza, there’s definitely an issue here with the Birchhaven.
(Nice call Miguel!). I tried a little WD40 sprayed in from the top (not wanting to remove the distributor just yet,
not without a plan), and this doesn’t seem to be helping. Not wanting to skimp when it comes to vital parts,
i’d just assume order a distributor at Napa #48-1892 Reman Distributor (NRD) (75-76) and drop it in on monday.
With this part number listed on the GMCMI parts index, Is this indeed the recommended part to drop in?
Or… Is it worth one’s time trying to clean and lubricate my original? It was running pretty smooth up until the acceleration phenomena.
I know that if i’m replacing, i should also do the cap and rotor… probably time for the wires… check the plugs…
Hopefully no damage was done to the engine on the 1 hour drive home that day!
Any quick advice appreciated, thanks
Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
i was experiencing a very high idle when coming to a stop at traffic lights.
It didn’t seem like a stuck accelerator cable, and considering the uncertainty of being able
to get it started again at the side of the road, we just made our way home through LA rush-hour traffic.
So now that its starting up properly in the driveway, i was looking further into that acceleration phenomena
and consulted with Miguel at MGM GMC who told me to take a look at the distributor, and see if the weights
are snapping back, or if they’re frozen up with rust, etc.
Well, the little “weights” on top seem to move just fine, but lo and behold, the part just underneath it
(centrifuge advance?) feels really gummy, and needs to be manually moved back by hand.
Comparing these to the distributor on the ’78 Eleganza, there’s definitely an issue here with the Birchhaven.
(Nice call Miguel!). I tried a little WD40 sprayed in from the top (not wanting to remove the distributor just yet,
not without a plan), and this doesn’t seem to be helping. Not wanting to skimp when it comes to vital parts,
i’d just assume order a distributor at Napa #48-1892 Reman Distributor (NRD) (75-76) and drop it in on monday.
With this part number listed on the GMCMI parts index, Is this indeed the recommended part to drop in?
Or… Is it worth one’s time trying to clean and lubricate my original? It was running pretty smooth up until the acceleration phenomena.
I know that if i’m replacing, i should also do the cap and rotor… probably time for the wires… check the plugs…
Hopefully no damage was done to the engine on the 1 hour drive home that day!
Any quick advice appreciated, thanks
Greg / SolarSonic / Los Angeles
