Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor to
tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

rgarrett did pass the time by typing:
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.

The bushing is wearing out. The only solution is to replace the
distributor.

Short term it will just make noise. Long term it will cause engine
problems. You should plan to fix it.

At least for the I6 it's not that hard to do. I've got a writeup
from the last time I did it to my ZJ.
http://revbeergoggles.com/distributor/

As a plus this also replaces the camshaft position sensor, another
source of rough idle/hesitation.

--
DougW

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

rgarrett did pass the time by typing:
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.

The bushing is wearing out. The only solution is to replace the
distributor.

Short term it will just make noise. Long term it will cause engine
problems. You should plan to fix it.

At least for the I6 it's not that hard to do. I've got a writeup
from the last time I did it to my ZJ.
http://revbeergoggles.com/distributor/

As a plus this also replaces the camshaft position sensor, another
source of rough idle/hesitation.

--
DougW

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

rgarrett did pass the time by typing:
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.

The bushing is wearing out. The only solution is to replace the
distributor.

Short term it will just make noise. Long term it will cause engine
problems. You should plan to fix it.

At least for the I6 it's not that hard to do. I've got a writeup
from the last time I did it to my ZJ.
http://revbeergoggles.com/distributor/

As a plus this also replaces the camshaft position sensor, another
source of rough idle/hesitation.

--
DougW

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes manuals
have instructions.


"rgarrett" <rgarrett@mail.com> wrote in message
news:v%pmf.6080$TU6.1128059@twister.southeast.rr.c om...
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor
to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.
>
>

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes manuals
have instructions.


"rgarrett" <rgarrett@mail.com> wrote in message
news:v%pmf.6080$TU6.1128059@twister.southeast.rr.c om...
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor
to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.
>
>

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes manuals
have instructions.


"rgarrett" <rgarrett@mail.com> wrote in message
news:v%pmf.6080$TU6.1128059@twister.southeast.rr.c om...
> I acquired my first Jeep no long ago. It is a 96 XJ with 148,000 miles. I
> noticed a steady ticking sound that I traced to the distributor using a
> screwdriver as a makeshift stethoscope. Is it normal for the distributor
to
> tick loudly or is this an indication of pending engine woe? Thanks.
>
>

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

"Robert" <Anonymous@NOSPAMPLEASE.montanasoft.com.SPaMFilTER > wrote in
message news:SoCdnW3Yk-8rpQfeRVn-jA@bresnan.com...
> Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
> replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes
> manuals
> have instructions.
>
That's what I thought on a 96 I owned. After pulling the shaft out I
discovered most of the ware was on the shaft and not the bushings. After the
core the replacement was $54 and it included a new cam position sensor.

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

"Robert" <Anonymous@NOSPAMPLEASE.montanasoft.com.SPaMFilTER > wrote in
message news:SoCdnW3Yk-8rpQfeRVn-jA@bresnan.com...
> Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
> replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes
> manuals
> have instructions.
>
That's what I thought on a 96 I owned. After pulling the shaft out I
discovered most of the ware was on the shaft and not the bushings. After the
core the replacement was $54 and it included a new cam position sensor.

Re: Noisy distributor on 96 XJ
 

"Robert" <Anonymous@NOSPAMPLEASE.montanasoft.com.SPaMFilTER > wrote in
message news:SoCdnW3Yk-8rpQfeRVn-jA@bresnan.com...
> Another option is to pull the distributor, disassemble the shaft, and
> replace the bushing. Saves you a lot of money. Chilton and Haynes
> manuals
> have instructions.
>
That's what I thought on a 96 I owned. After pulling the shaft out I
discovered most of the ware was on the shaft and not the bushings. After the
core the replacement was $54 and it included a new cam position sensor.