> <snip>
>
I had been concentrating on the fuel & vacuum system, not to mention
> timing and plugs, but I got curious about the crank angle sensor and
> distibutor itself. When I removed the cap, the was a small amount of
> oil IN THE DISTRIBUTOR cap! Lucklily I had a used distributor unit,
> unbolted the old one and put the replacement one on and cleaned up the
> cap. (No error codes on the computer by the way!)
>
The distributer shafts are driven by the oil pump in most cars. There
should be a ring seal on the distributer shaft. It's probably worn and
allowing the oil to get into the distributer.

Signature
Bill
in Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, delete the double zeroes after @
codifus@optonline.net - 05 Oct 2006 19:46 GMT
> > <snip>
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> in Hamptonburgh, NY
> To email, delete the double zeroes after @
This oil in distributor is a classic problem on the 93-97 Altima, and I
would assume, the same asyou have, that the OP's 89 Sentra is having
that problem.
On the 93 to 97 Altima, however, the distributor is driven by the
exhaust cam. Fixing the issue meant replacing the entire distributor.
Cap, rotor AND the housing of the distributor.
CD
Ben - 06 Oct 2006 22:36 GMT
Thank you, can I just replace the seal or do I have to get a new
distributor too?
- Ben
> > <snip>
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> in Hamptonburgh, NY
> To email, delete the double zeroes after @
Von - 06 Oct 2006 23:40 GMT
If you want you could get a kit to rebuild the distributor. But, the
common thing to do is get a rebuilt distributor.
> Thank you, can I just replace the seal or do I have to get a new
> distributor too?
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> > in Hamptonburgh, NY
> > To email, delete the double zeroes after @
Could it be an electrical problem caused my the engine movement? Like a
ground that loses conductivity when the engine tilts under load?
Does it happen when racing the engine with no load, i.e in neutral?
I do not think that the distributor would behave too differently when at
partial or full load.
What did you move, touch or disturbed while replacing the distributor?
It could be something lose or defective in the vecinity of the distributor.
Good luck
> Hi again!
> Still trying to work the bugs out of my '89 Sentra 1.6 ltr. with 5
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> your help on this one!
> - Ben