Well, it's getting cold here, the the '92 Sentra 1.6L is getting
harder to start in the 30F mornings. I changed the oil again last
weekend, so I thought it might be a good idea to install the new
plugs, wires, cap, rotor, PCV valve and fuel filter that have
been sitting in the garage for two months.

    I figured out how to remove the boot-thingie over the
distributor cap and took a quick look at the cap itself. Ooh,
screws are *corroded*. Quick squirt of Liquid Wrench to the head,
end, and middle, and let it sit while I rinse the grunge off the
boot-thingie.

    Back a while later with an assortment of screwdrivers, another
squirt of LW, and...

...no, the front screw is just crumbling. OK, more LW and I will
peruse the toolbox for something that will work. Ah, very small
slip joint pliers, just the ticket. More liquid wrench, and a
gentle twist back and forth, a little more torque CCW and...ahh,
here it comes! Hmm, the end doesn't look like it's turning? Are
the pliers slipping? No..ahhh, #@$%&# the *screw* broke!

    Don't know how many caps I've changed and I've never had this
happen. There's always a first time....

    So... slotting the ends with a Dremel didn't work. Finally took
a really small drill bit and drilled a  hole through the screw.
It really was pretty centered, so I took a larger drill and made
a bigger hole. I still couldn't get anything in the hole to try
and budge the screw, so I used a third drill. Using a small
screwdriver in the hole did not accomplish anything, so I got my
smallest EZ-OUT and tried it. It actually fit! I started gently
feeding it in, and was rewarded after a few efforts by the
release of pressure as the screw started backing out. I rejoiced,
until I realized that the whole "ear" on the distributor body had
crumbled to dust. Leaving me to view the remarkably intact
threads on the inner side of the hole.

    So...I'm trying to figure out what next. I really don't want to
dump $200-300 into a reman distributor. OTOH, I really don't want
to get stranded, either.

    I'm thinking of slotting the body and fitting a threaded washer
type device, or maybe some kind of bracket. I've also been known
to do some remarkable things with Liquid Nails.

       Actually, I'd like a real repair, not a cob job, but
until this is fixed I'm walking to work. It looks as if I could
get a used distributor off eBay for about $40, could I swap my
"guts" if it didn't work? Also, I gather there is an O-ring that
goes bad on this model? There isn't any oil in my cap, although
the cap and rotor were totally shot.

    Thought I would ask the fine folks here on AAN if there's
anything I'm not aware of. Anybody?

"How was your weekend?"
"Great, I did $300 damage to my car!"

PB