Rotor Self-Destruction

[BartusCompater]

I was driving down the road today and my car simply stopped dead in the middle of busy seven lane street and refused to start back up.

Eventually some gentlemen in a van driving by stopped and gave me a push into a parking lot.

I checked the cap and rotor and surely enough a wire under the rotor had been cut clean in two. It looked as though someone had simply taken a pair of scissors to it.

I didn't have any tools in my car but there was a Bartell Drugs nearby and I bought a screwdriver and some electrical tape and was able to patch the wire back up so I could get the car home.

Is this a common problem? It just doesn't make sense to me that this wire would be so exposed to the point where the ignition simply cuts its own electrical line apart.

[TulsaSpider]

Mind didn't break in two but it broke internally. It took a while to track the problem down. This does seem to be a common problem. Vibration + heat + age = breakage I'd say! I recommend to everyone to replace those buggars! Glad you got it back home ok!

[4babycar]

I have had the same issue, twice (three time actually but the 1st was over 10 years ago)! I try to keep a spare with me at all times. The last time it broke, at the stop light of a busy intersection, I was able to get out an change it withing 2 cycles of the light! Get use to it and check the wires often. Also, make sure the white portion of the wire going from the distributor to the coil is well secured. If not it will fall against the exhaust manifold and cook in two. I think you can figure out how I know this one.

[manoa matt]

If you are talking about the electronic ignition pickup wires inside the 79-85 distributors, there is a way to twist the wires after installing the magnetic pickup but before installing that small hold down screw. Twist the wires to create a loop. Depending on how you twist it, the loop will tend to lean in towards the rotor, or out towards the cap. Have it lean out towards the cap.

[mbouse]

Eventually some gentlemen in a van driving by stopped and gave me a push into a parking lot.

IIs this a common problem?

getting someone to stop and help is a blessing. not having help when you desperately needed is becoming too common.

you were lucking just in that!!

[ga.spyder]

I had a savvy Fiat guy show me the trick that Manoa Matt mentioned(twisting the wires).He took it one step further and wrapped them in electrical tape for extra protection.Make sure you keep the old one ,if it is still working, and carry it always.Very common problem w/ the electronic ignition cars.
Craig

[BartusCompater]

Are the replacement pickup wires something I'm gonna have to order through IAP or is this something I might be able to get through a general parts dealer?

[ga.spyder]

You will have to order a new magnetic pickup(wires included).I doubt that a parts place would have it ,but you can check.I have found that our vendors..Vicks,IAP,etc have better prices on these specialty items.
Craig

[4babycar]

I have found that my local Napa and Autozone stores can order them but they are $50+ where Vicks, IAP and BPB are all around $30. With that being the case I will certainly support our specialty retailers. As a matter of fact I have one in route to me now.

[ga.spyder]

That echos my experience with parts chain stores.They are usually higher in price and rarely have what I need in stock.Even with shipping the vendors are usually less.When you install the new one,there is a gap between the shaft and the p/u that needs to be set.Someone here will chime in on what the gap is,or I will see if I can find it in a manual.Keep your old one and keep it in the car,it is one of those things that can stop you dead in your tracks!
Craig

[manoa matt]

The gap between the blade of the rotor and the mag pickup is .50-.60 mm

[4babycar]

I had never seen the spec. for the pick-up gap before this post. In the past, I have changed these without setting a gap and haven't noticed any issues but after confirming the spec. in my manual, I am intrigued on how you would go about setting it. My manual specifies using a non-magnetic tool of .5-.6mm or .02-.024" to set the gap. Has anyone else done this and what kind of tool did you use? Over the weekend I plan on replacing the pick-up that I have due to some damage so any help would be appreciated as always. -Thanks

[rlux4]

You can buy non-magnetic feeler gauges. I found my set which has a lot of normal steel sizes and a few others that are a non-magnetic metal at Autozone.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

those non-metallic feeler gauges are brass, or you can use the cheap shade-tree method and use a match book cover

[rlux4]

I was guessing brass, but I didn't want to broadcast my level of ignorance if I was wrong, hence the "non-magnetic" nomenclature. I wasn't sure brass would be so flexible and non brittle when it was so thin. Ain't life great, you learn something new every day!
Ron