I left the Fiero at my friend's house, when it broke down.He very kindly(to help me out) asked somebody to dismantle the distributor for me, with the help of the W/shop manual. It says, you can remove the rotor etc without taking the distributor out.And so he took off the cap, rotor arm, and then tried to remove the rotating pole piece...with a couple of screwdrivers!! He managed to get it off the shaft, but it is bent out of shape...and I don't think the rotor bit is meant to come off like that, even though the book says you can...Now, the problems I face....I have straightened out the pole pieces..but the rotor pole pieces, for want of a better word, seem to be pressed onto the distributor shaft, and does not have a locating slot or anything.There are no markings to be able to press it back on in the correct position, in relation to the position of the top rotor slot...and so, I can't line it up properly...and the blasted ignition module I bought on eBay in France 3 weeks ago, has not turned up either! So, do I need to buy another distributor,because this one is dismantled incorrectly, or can I get it back together in the correct position? Also, he removed the distributor without marking the position as he took it out..that will be fun to line uo again!! Any help. once again, will be gratefully received!! Nick
------------------ fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!! Responsibilty: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
IP: Logged
06:36 AM
PFF
System Bot
Francis T Member
Posts: 6620 From: spotsylvania va. usa Registered: Oct 2003
Personnally, I think you are going to need a new distributor since you said the shaft was bent but I am no expert. I also am wondering about the gear at the bottom of the shaft. Is it still in the engine? If you got it out did you get all the pieces of the shear pin that holds it on? Man, I wish you the best but this sounds pretty tough.
FrancisT..It cut out going round a roundabout..and wouldn't start again!! Fuel pump SOUNDED like it should...2 second run, but it threw 3 codes...33,34 and 42. That seems to indicate a fault in the ignition module, and possibly the pick-up coil. As I had a new pick-up coil, my friend decided to try and fit it!! Edit to add...the little spring clip which holds the pick-up coil in place doesn't seem to locate in its' slot..because the pick-up coil seems to be slightly deeper than it should be, preventing the clip from mounting far enough down the shaft to align with its' retaining slot...are there more than one type? It looks like the old one was glued on!! The locator pin/hole fit ok.... 1MohrFiero... The shaft isn't bent, it was just the six pole pieces were bent out of shape, when he tried to "lift" it off the shaft. The shaft is perfect.And so is the lower end...nothing came apart there..as was revealed when the distributor was removed from the block.I have realigned the bent pole pieces correctly, so now the only problem is, relocating the pole pieces onto the shaft in the correct degree of offset from the rotor slot..I hope that makes sense!!! Thanks for the prompt replies! Nick
------------------ fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!! Responsibilty: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 07-18-2005).]
IP: Logged
06:57 AM
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
Hey Nick you can borrow my spare module untill you get yours delivered... I have an E-tron and a GM module which I swap sometimes when diagnosing a problem, I think the E-tron is on the car now so the GM is available....let me know if you need it, I could send it out tomorrow..... I never had a module failing but driving without a spare feels like tempting the fiero gods so I do want it back later ! ...and dont let people help you if they dont know what theyre doing....but I guess you figured that already
Yoy need a new distributor now. The magneto with the little tabs and a magnet sandwiched in between the assembly as you no is not supposed to come off the shaft in a normal disassembly and there is a chance that the distributor housing itself was damaged in the prying process since it appears that a good bit of force is required to remove it I'm surprised he was able to remove it with screw drivers. Even if you succeeded at placing it back on the shaft the timing has to be reset and if the little tabs are not almost perfect in their location or touching any part of the tabs on the base it will likely not start.
Thanks FieRo..I will hold on for the moment..it will probably turn up any day soon, and reading the post below yours, I guess I will need a new shaft as well..so thanks again, and will let you know!!Still waiting to hear that you will pay us a visit soon!! Hi Joseph..yes, you seem to have confirmed my worst fears.. more often than not, I think the problems presented to us by our Fieros, are as a result of Human error, not flaws in the design of the car!! ( Just being nice, in case she is listening, and decides to give me even more payback for my comments!!) I thing I can solve the problem with a replacement shaft...it all goes back together perfectly, just the offset of the trigger wheel will give enormous problems, I am sure!! A new shaft should fix that..or maybe I should just get a whole new setup.. Thanks again
------------------ fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!! Responsibilty: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
IP: Logged
08:23 AM
m0sh_man Member
Posts: 8460 From: south charleston WV 25309 Registered: Feb 2002
Put the PU clip on and new module, use grease supplied:
Pin back in and new rotor:
New cap and you are done.
If you bent the little fingers on the shaft or where the PU coil sets you may have to replace the distributor, they are hard to bend back in the correct place for clearence............Paul
Keep your old distributor. Someday when you rebuild your engine, you can cut the gear off and make a tool to prime your oil pump. other than that, it isn't worth messing with.
Fantastic!! Thanks Paul..that is pretty much how mine looked. I think I will have to go for a new distributor..one day... Mosh_man..this is a diagram of the offset angle that has been lost by the removal of the trigger wheel from the shaft. I don't think I will be able to replicate it accurately enough, so it looks like getting another Nick
------------------ fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!! Responsibilty: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
Thanks Skybax, for an excellent write-up.I have also given you a +. Unfortunately, where the car is, they don't have internet, and only speak Spanish!! A good deed gone wrong, I am afraid, but must be philosphical about it.
------------------ fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!! Responsibilty: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 07-18-2005).]
Like others have said, that piece wasn't meant to be removed from the shaft, and once removed it won't every stay in place properly again. It's a one-time press fit.
JazzMan
IP: Logged
12:36 AM
triker Member
Posts: 454 From: Yreka, Ca. USA Registered: Apr 2000
Pre-oiling The gear isn't what you use to pre-oil. It's the hex shaft that stays in the engine when you pull the distributor. It will come out with an extendable magnet. If you have an extra one you can weld a 1/4" round extension on it and run the oil pump with a drill motor.
IP: Logged
09:32 AM
Jul 24th, 2005
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
yo Nick:....score! Donated by Ducattiman so you might want to thank him. This guy is donating his partscar all over europe lol...The distributor looks and turns ok but I would recommend a new pick-up coil while youre at it.. So where do I send it?
other than that, it isn't worth messing with. 
