Cracks in distributor insulator(?)

[Girl und Panzer]

I recently hit 240K miles and figured it might be a good time to change my plugs/wires/cap/rotor. When I opened the cap, I found oil and plastic pieces (I know it needs the O ring but that'll be later) but the plastic bits weirded me out. Kinda looked like chili crisp but in motor oil but I wiped it away before thinking to photograph. I also noticed this crack in the insulator or whatever the red thing is. Is it worth replacing the distributor (if it's even available) when I do the full valve cover etc gasket replacement this fall?

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

That distributor area doesn’t get any cooling air flow. Probably like an oven in there. That plus oil soaking would probably cause that damage over the amount of miles your rig has. If you can replace the whole dizzy. At the were least you are getting weak spark or RFI.

 

[jonheld]

That cracked piece is epoxy to keep the pick up coil core from moving in the mount. If the magnetic core (the piece that sticks up) doesn't move then it's fine.
New distributors are still available from Toyota (19100-66020) but will cost between $450-$650 depending on where you purchase.
Oil inside the cap is the internal seal in the distributor housing, not the external O ring.
Personally, I would pick up a known good used one.

 

[Girl und Panzer]

That cracked piece is epoxy to keep the pick up coil core from moving in the mount. If the magnetic core (the piece that sticks up) doesn't move then it's fine.
New distributors are still available from Toyota (19100-66020) but will cost between $450-$650 depending on where you purchase.
Oil inside the cap is the internal seal in the distributor housing, not the external O ring.
Personally, I would pick up a known good used one.

Gotcha - I don't think it moved when I was poking at the cracked part. Is that coil the kind of thing that fails on fire? Or just makes the engine stop? That'll be how I prioritize lol

 

[jonheld]

Gotcha - I don't think it moved when I was poking at the cracked part. Is that coil the kind of thing that fails on fire? Or just makes the engine stop? That'll be how I prioritize lol

The Toyota FSM gives an excellent explanation of the function of the 3 coils. Without the proper signals to the ECU, this engine won't run.

"The crankshaft position sensor (NE signal) consists of a signal plate and pick up coil. The NE signal plate
has 24 teeth and is built into the distributor. When the camshaft rotates, the protrusion on the signal plate
and the air gap on the pick up coil change, causing fluctuations in the magnetic field and generating an electromotive
force in the pick up coil. The NE signal sensor generates 24 signals for every engine revolution.
The ECM detects the standard crankshaft angle based on the G1, G2 signals, detects the actual crankshaft
angle and the engine speed by the NE signals, and detects misfire by NE2 signals."

 

[Kernal]

The reddish brown cracked plastic is a cover for the copper (wire) pick up coils, about any oil resistant adhesive could be used to hold them in place. Problem is anything more than a light breeze and they might fall off, easier to fix with the distributor out.

 

[manofthewoods]

The Toyota FSM gives an excellent explanation of the function of the 3 coils. Without the proper signals to the ECU, this engine won't run.

"The crankshaft position sensor (NE signal) consists of a signal plate and pick up coil. The NE signal plate
has 24 teeth and is built into the distributor. When the camshaft rotates, the protrusion on the signal plate
and the air gap on the pick up coil change, causing fluctuations in the magnetic field and generating an electromotive
force in the pick up coil. The NE signal sensor generates 24 signals for every engine revolution.
The ECM detects the standard crankshaft angle based on the G1, G2 signals, detects the actual crankshaft
angle and the engine speed by the NE signals, and detects misfire by NE2 signals."

A small clarification. W/24 teeth, that would be 12 signals per crankshaft revolution since the distributor (and camshafts) rotates at half speed.

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

A little Johnny before church.

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

My oldest after her first dance recital. Daddy loves you Hazy! I’m so proud of you! You’re a show stealer!