1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Distributor Cap Diagram
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Well, my dist. cap and rotor now have 102,000 on them (7 years) and while the truck starts and runs great, I figure it's time for replacements. I had the filter assembly off this past weekend for an air filter, and could barely see the cap. Does anyone have any sage advice on replacing the cap and rotor before I crawl into it. For a veh. that takes 10 minutes and 1 hand to change plugs, they sure put the dist. in a h--l of a place. Phillips screws I assume, on the cap and rotor??
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You gonna do the plugs and wires at the same time?
If so, hook up the plug wires and separate them by which side of the engine they belong on. Remove the air box, remove the wires, pop off the distributor, pull off the rotor, install new rotor, and plop your whole new cap/wire assembly. Then just route the wires to the proper plug.
If you're not doing wires, just unhook the wires from the old cap, yank the rotor, install new rotor, stick the new cap on, and put the wires back on.
One thing I always do is put a little dielectric grease in the end of the plug wires (on both sides).
Another thing I do to help with the install is to actually get up and sit in there, rather than leaning over the fender the whole time.
Here's a diagram to help with the wire reinstall:
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If you buy a new cap and rotor(I would also suggest new plug wires). You should take off your current cap with the wires attached and transfer them carefully to the new cap(if you don't buy new wires-if you do match the same length wires together) Make sure you number where the wires go anyway that you can keep trackof where their supposed to go.(i use 1d,2d,3d,4d-driver side front to back, 1p,2p,3p,4p-passenger side front to back because it's easier then the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-at least to me it is.)
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I always used ACCEL, but if you go down to your local NAPA store, ask them for the one with brass fitting inside the cap = it provides optimal electrical work for your truck
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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
THX, I just replaced the plugs probably 2-3000 ago, so it will just be cap,rotor and wires this time around. THX a bunch for the diagram.
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I found that the easiest way to change the cap and rotor is to throw a blanket on the radiator support and kneel on it to reach the cap and rotor. As said before pull the cap out with the wires attached and a numbered piece of tape at the plug end and then transfer the wires one at a time. The only issue with doing it this way is that you have to pull and install the cap and rotor blind. A bit easier than it sounds but still a pain. You have your choice between seeing and straining to reach...or reach and seeing with your hands!
Reward yourself with a 6er after your done!
Source: https://www.dodgetalk.com/threads/distributor-cap-and-rotor.132572/
Posted by: pillowstalks.blogspot.com