The Town Hall Archives

jessicado · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: Mechanics please:)

So I just got a new car and was told I needed to replace my rotor, which I picked up and it looks very small and simple to replace. So I have been looking online for the past couple of hours trying to figure out how to replace it, and in the time that I wasn't distracted by here or some other website (Jennifer Aniston filed for divorce from Brad Pitt! Wink

) I kept getting all this info on how to replace brake rotors.

I finally figured out that my part is called a distribution rotor, which gave me better results online but I still can't seem to find much info on installing it. Does anyone here have a clue what I am talking about and if so would anyone be so kind as to give me directions? Thanks!

Simbelmyne34 · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:13 am Post subject:

sorry, can't help you there. Maybe go to 'Car Talk' they might be able to help you.

Me · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

The local library should have excellent car books. If they have the right ones, you can look up your car model, and it will give you all the diagrams, etc.

Rick_Hardslab · Junior Member Joined: 23 May 2003 Posts: 124

If your feeling brave/stupid, here is the basic diy formula:

1) Find out whats wrong: you already did this, its the distributor rotor
2) buy a replacement part: you already did this too
3) carefully disassemble/remove the part from your car makeing note of the assembly, location and order (you'll probably need to use paper for this part).
4) install the new part and reassemble.

I've successfully changed quite a number of parts on cars following this simple procedure. CV joints, wheel bearings, brake callipers, power steering pump, radiator, thermostat... And its the same thing you do when fixing other things too, like computers.

Jonathan · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:44 am Post subject:

Plus it's more fun to do it yourself Smile

-Jonathan

GusDeHaan · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Mechanics please:)

jessicado · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice all......I am aware that taking it to a mechanic would be the logical thing. But I am not a very loical person Very Happy

. I really want to learn car mechanics, but it's not something I can exactly teach myself...well, I am sure I could, but I don't want to learn that much. I think I'll go with Gus's idea and get some diagrams, and then make sure I mark it really well like Rick said and then attempt it. If it is too hard or something then hopefully I can get it back together to go to a mechanic. Some of my friends from where I used to live know about cars, so maybe if I go give them puppy eyes they will come help me. Of course, I won't be able to drive there to give them the puppy eyes.......that might be a problem.

Kinda on the topic but not really--I've only been driving the new car for a few days and I have a tendency to drive fast. So last night I was coming home from school and I drove through some really big puddles up my drivewayand then when I got home all this steam was coming up from under my hood and I was freaking out because I thought my car had overheated. I was so upset because I had just bought it and then I couldn't get the hood open becasue I have never actually opened the hood and I couldn't find the latch, and it was dark. Lol, you should have seen me. Anyways--it was just water splashing up onto the engine from the puddle and then steaming off. I am a dork. Maybe this is a sign I shouldn't change the rotor.........

Jonathan · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

After that story...I think you should bring it to a mechanic.

-Jonathan

Simbelmyne34 · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:44 pm Post subject:

Me · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I'm thinking mechanic might be a good idea. A guy at my church drove his parents car through a big puddle. The air intake was on the bottom of the engine. Let's just say that for bystanders, hilarity ensued. Parents not too happy, of course.