How to Check to See If a Distributor Is Bad

The distributor in your vehicle's engine is a critical component of being able to properly start the engine. The distributor takes the primary high-voltage spark from the battery and routes it to various parts of the engine. If the distributor is bad, the spark will not route correctly, if it all. The secondary spark test will enable you to make sure that the distributor is working properly. If it is not, you should repair or replace it as soon as you can.

Instructions

1

Open your vehicle's hood.

2

Remove one of the spark plug wires from the distributor.

3

Insert a spark tester into the distributor and ground it to a metal spot on the engine.

4

Use a socket wrench to rotate the crankshaft bolt.

5

Inspect the distributor while you rotate the bolt. If there is a spark, your distributor is functioning properly. If not, there may be an issue with your distributor or with another ignition component.