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Garage in Caterham, 8 years of experience
Mobile mechanic in Poole, 36 years of experience
C
Nissan Micra • Distributor replacement
DION
Volkswagen Transporter • Starter motor replacement
PAUL
Garage in Darwen, 14 years of experience
Garage in Wrexham, 25 years of experience
MICHAEL
Mercedes-Benz E-Class • Full Service
Read our short guide with information on costs, symptoms and more.
Older cars are usually fitted with a distributor, which is a device that distributes the electric energy from the iginition coil to the car's spark plugs situated in the engine's cylinders, which turn the electricity into a spark. Modern cars, on the other hand, usually have engines with direct ignition.
The distributor's two main components are the distributor rotor and cap. The rotor rotates within the distributor and distributes the high voltage electricity by way of contact points to the spark plug leads that are attached to the distributor cap. In turn the spark plug leads send the electricity to the spark plugs.
Over time the rotor and cap's condition can deteriorate due to wear. The cap and the contact points inside can, for example, be affected by erosion or corrosion. Equally, carbon can build up inside the rotor cap on and around the contact points, diverting electricity from the points. Both lead to a decreased electric current to run from the rotor arm through the contact points, in turn leading to a diminished spark at the spark plug. Misfires inside the engine can then occur.
The condensor is instrumental in creating a flat electricity flow to the spark plugs, decreasing the voltage as well as absorbing undesirable voltage peaks created by the coil. It stores electricity from the coil when the distributor's contact points are open and releases it each time contact points close. If the condensor inside the distributor is faulty, the condensor cannot absorb the excess electricity from the coil. A faulty condensor can lead to excessive wear on the contact points and spark plugs as well as engine misfires.
It is therefore important to service the distributor as and when stipulated in the guidelines set out by your car's manufacturer. It is essential that the distributor is kept in a good condition, this should contribute to a prolonged distributor lifespan.
Should you experience problems like those noted earlier then it is important to have the distributor inspected and, if necessary, have it replaced.
The cost of a distributor replacement depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement. Find out what you could save by having your distributor replaced by Clickmechanic, by selecting your car at the top of this page!
These estimates may include Distributor
7 manufacturers for Car Distributor Repair
Name | Clickmechanic Click mechanic average | Independent garage estimate | Franchise dealer estimate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
AudiParts costs: £114.94 - £137.93 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1 |
£156 |
£164 - £164 |
£236 - £236 |
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HondaParts costs: £355.58 - £435.79 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 17 |
£398 |
£383 - £390 |
£481 - £490 |
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NissanParts costs: £296.84 - £363.79 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 18 |
£354 |
£346 - £352 |
£454 - £462 |
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PeugeotParts costs: £320.83 - £384.99 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2 |
£355 |
£357 - £367 |
£457 - £476 |
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RoverParts costs: £646.73 - £776.08 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 12 |
£701 |
£681 - £696 |
£843 - £874 |
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VauxhallParts costs: £154.35 - £186.13 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2 |
£199 |
£203 - £204 |
£283 - £284 |
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VolkswagenParts costs: £241.61 - £333.91 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 5 |
£282 |
£286 - £327 |
£379 - £432 |
Get exact price |
Prices could not be created for 73 models. Show ∨
Estimates on repair costs, such as the above results for a car distributor repair, are created by combining data from multiple third-party sources. The actual cost of using your local repair providers may be outside of the estimated range. We provide estimates on repair costs for information only and accept no liability for any inaccuracies or errors. If you think an estimate is incorrect, please contact us to let us know.
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