{"id":42073,"date":"2021-07-30T02:08:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T09:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=42073"},"modified":"2023-09-15T20:45:58","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T03:45:58","slug":"bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_e4e1f8-06 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-ba5271  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-27af04\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b18f95-f6\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b18f95-f6\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b18f95-f6\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_b18f95-f6 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b18f95-f6\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Distributor caps are wear-and-tear items that should be replaced along with the rotor whenever you do a tune-up.<\/li><li>It might be time to replace the distributor cap if you notice the following symptoms: misfiring and rough running; illuminated check engine light; hard starting; and having an engine that cranks but won&rsquo;t start.<\/li><li>Distributor caps can cost anywhere between $75 and $200 to replace.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Although newer vehicles no longer have distributors (they rely on individual ignition coils, instead), there are still many older models on the road with distributor-style ignition systems. If you&rsquo;re reading this article, your car is probably one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like spark plugs and spark plug wires, distributor caps are considered a maintenance item that wears out over time. You should replace your car&rsquo;s distributor cap whenever you perform a tune-up. If you neglect to service the cap, it will eventually fail, resulting in one or more noticeable symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Distributor Cap?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"distributor cap parts with labels\" class=\"wp-image-42081\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-928x696.jpg 928w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-labels.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>An example of a distributor cap.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Distributor caps are only found on vehicles that have a distributor-style ignition system. It&rsquo;s important to know how this type of ignition system works to understand the role of the distributor cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any ignition system, a distributor setup is designed to fire the spark plugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture inside the engine. As you might guess, the heart of a distributor-style system is the distributor&mdash;an engine-driven device that passes high voltage from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/ignition-coil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"ignition coil\">ignition coil<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/spark-plug\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"spark plugs\">spark plugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The distributor cap, which is made of plastic and has metal terminals, sits on top of the distributor. High voltage from the ignition coil is sent to the middle terminal of the distributor cap whenever the engine is running. From there, the voltage travels to the rotor inside of the distributor. The rotor turns with the distributor, delivering voltage to the cap&rsquo;s terminals one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each terminal connects to a spark plug wire that provides a path for voltage to reach one of the engine&rsquo;s spark plugs and make the plug fire. The firing spark plugs produce a series of small explosions, creating the energy needed to propel your vehicle down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Signs of a Bad Distributor Cap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you think you might be dealing with a bad distributor cap? If your vehicle is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms, you might be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>Because other problems can present the same symptoms as a bad distributor cap, you&rsquo;ll want to perform a thorough diagnosis of the vehicle before doing any repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Misfiring and Rough Running<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Issues with the cap&mdash;including worn terminals, corrosion, cracks, and carbon tracking&mdash;can prevent voltage from reaching the spark plugs as it should. As a result, the engine will misfire, run rough, and exhibit an overall lack of performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illuminated Check Engine Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On all vehicles built after 1996 (and some built prior), the engine computer, which is often referred to as the powertrain control module, monitors the engine for misfires. If the PCM detects a misfire for any reason, including a bad distributor cap, the module will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/check-engine-light-flashing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"turn on the check engine light\">turn on the check engine light<\/a> and store a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/search-obd2-codes-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"diagnostic trouble code\">diagnostic trouble code<\/a> in its memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hard Starting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The same distributor cap problems that can lead to misfiring and rough running can also result in extended cranking and difficulty starting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engine Cranks But Doesn&rsquo;t Start<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Problems with the distributor cap (e.g., cracks, a worn center terminal, or severe carbon tracking) can also lead to an engine that cranks but doesn&rsquo;t start.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Distributor Cap FAQ&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Test for a Bad Distributor Cap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ways to check a distributor cap is to remove it and perform a visual inspection. You&rsquo;ll want to look for problems, such as cracks, tiny holes, corrosion on the terminals, and excessive terminal wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also test the cap for carbon tracking&mdash;a tiny line of carbon that creates an unwanted path for electricity&mdash;using a digital multimeter (DMM) set to ohms. The same method can reveal whether the internal path between the cap&rsquo;s ignition coil terminal and center terminal is intact. Here&rsquo;s how it&rsquo;s done:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing the Path Between the Coil Terminal and Center Terminal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-1024x806.jpg\" alt=\"Testing the Path Between the Coil Terminal and Center Terminal\" class=\"wp-image-42083\" width=\"1024\" height=\"806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-1536x1209.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal-150x118.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-the-Path-Between-the-Coil-Terminal-and-Center-Terminal.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Testing performed with a known good cap for reference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Place one meter lead on the cap&rsquo;s coil terminal and&nbsp; the other meter lead on the center terminal.<\/li><li>There should be continuity between the two terminals. If not, the cap is defective and needs to be replaced.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing For Carbon Tracking Between Terminals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1024x806.jpg\" alt=\"Testing For Carbon Tracking Between Terminals\" class=\"wp-image-42084\" width=\"1024\" height=\"806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1536x1209.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-150x118.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Testing-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Testing for carbon tracking between terminals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Place one meter lead on one of the cap&rsquo;s outer terminals.<\/li><li>Place the other meter lead on each of the remaining outer terminals one at a time.<\/li><li>There should NOT be continuity between any of the two outer terminals. If there is, the cap is defective and needs to be replaced.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1024x814.jpg\" alt=\"Additional Test For Carbon Tracking Between Terminals\" class=\"wp-image-42085\" width=\"1024\" height=\"814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1024x814.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-768x611.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-1536x1222.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Additional-Test-For-Carbon-Tracking-Between-Terminals.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Placing one meter lead on the cap&rsquo;s center terminal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Place one meter lead on the cap&rsquo;s center terminal.<\/li><li>Place the other meter lead on each of the spark plug terminals one at a time.<\/li><li>There should NOT be continuity between the center terminal and any of the spark plug terminals. If there is, the cap is defective and needs to be replaced.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Do Distributor Caps Go Bad?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Distributor caps operate under high voltage in extreme conditions. As such, they&rsquo;re considered maintenance items that should be replaced periodically. It&rsquo;s a good idea to replace the distributor cap and rotor whenever you do a tune-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Distributor Cap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you choose to have a professional replace your car&rsquo;s distributor cap, you can usually expect to pay somewhere <strong>between $75 and $200<\/strong> to get the job done. Of course, the exact cost will depend on various factors, such as the year, make, and model of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Distributor Cap for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot can go wrong by driving with a cracked distributor cap. It can even render your vehicle undrivable if left unaddressed for too long. Fortunately, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> has made it easy for you to shop for a top-notch replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&rsquo;t have to leave the comfort of your home to buy a replacement distributor cap from us. Sit back, relax, and click away on our website. Enter your vehicle&rsquo;s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to narrow down the search results to compatible products for your ride. All our distributor caps passed strict quality checks, so you&rsquo;re sure to get a durable replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our distributor caps come with a low-price guarantee to help you get the best value for your money. Order now, and we&rsquo;ll deliver your product straight to your doorstep in as fast as two business days. You can also call us using our toll-free hotline to place an order with the help of our round-the-clock customer service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get your vehicle running like it&rsquo;s good as new when you shop for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/distributor-cap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"distributor cap replacement\">distributor cap replacement<\/a> here at CarParts.com!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Although newer vehicles no longer have distributors (they rely on individual ignition coils, instead), there are still many older models&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":42110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[1606],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-42073","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-ignition-system","9":"tag-distributor-cap-2","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1126\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"29\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\\\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\"}],\"headline\":\"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1193,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/07\\\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"distributor-cap\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\",\"Ignition System\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\",\"name\":\"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/07\\\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/07\\\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/07\\\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg\",\"width\":1700,\"height\":1126,\"caption\":\"distributor cap with silicone wires car parts\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1700,"height":1126,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"29","name":"Mia Bevacqua","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485"}],"headline":"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost","datePublished":"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/"},"wordCount":1193,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","keywords":["distributor-cap"],"articleSection":["DIY","Ignition System"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/","name":"Bad Distributor Cap: Symptoms, Testing, Replacement Cost - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","datePublished":"2021-07-30T09:08:17+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-16T03:45:58+00:00","description":"Distributor caps can wear out over time. Learn the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, as well as how to test it in this guide.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","width":1700,"height":1126,"caption":"distributor cap with silicone wires car parts"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/distributor-cap-with-silicone-wires-car-parts.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-distributor-cap-symptoms-testing-replacement-cost\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2622,"user_id":1643,"is_guest":0,"slug":"miabevacqua","display_name":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42073"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=42073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}