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Just replaced my distributor to fix a longstanding PO341 CEL problem. Used a used distributor from eBay. Worked fine for about a week then I pulled the cap for some reason and found it full of oil. I cleaned it out, and a few days later the CEL was on too, whether from the oil or the cleaning is impossible to say.
I tend to be a cheapskate, but my conclusion from this experience is that for most people a used distributor is NOT the way to go - if one is not leaking already, odds are that it will be leaking soon. Also, a $190 rebuild from Eeuroparts or others comes with a new cap and rotor, while many salvage yard distributors won't. If you pay $75 bucks, which seems to be a fairly typical price, for a used distributor, and add a $45 worth of cap and rotor, your have spent well over half the price of a rebuild, to fix on problem (the CEL) in the short run, but done nothing about the major problem (the seal) in the long.
You can reseal a used distributor, using the seal that has been recommended here. I did it to my old one, which I am using, CEL on, again as I try to return the bad ebay one. Only thing is, resealing is not as easy as it sounds - on mine the top plate/washer came out very hard, and got fairly distorted in the process. While I pressed it flat before reinstalling, I have doubts about how well it will function as a thrust washer (which is essentially what it is), considering especially that it bears against a very flimsy composite bearing washer.
BTW, when I pulled apart my old distributor, I was amazed how nasty the old seal was - it was so hard and brittle it felt like Bakelite or something, not a rubber seal. I have taken 50 year old seals out of motorcycles that were in better shape! Seems Bosch must have made a very bad choice of material.
posted by 69.131.89...
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