hey, looking to see if anyone has a blowup diagram of the distributor for a 94 accord 4 cylinder automatic. i (my daughter) has the dreaded oil leak symptoms as told to her by a mechanic when she bought the car. it is definatly leaking and i am hoping it is just the o ring. i will work on it and just wanted to get a jumpstart before i tear into it. i for one am not spending 5-700 dollars on a distributor. you guys are saying the inner seal can't be replaced?? love those imports...

 

You don't need an exploded view of the distributor to see the O-ring. I know that parts stores only sell that o-ring with the distributor and not by itself. If a replacement can't be found a used distributor can be had for $60 at a salvage yard. Just buy a new cap and rotor for it.

It's only held into the head by 3 12mm bolts and the "key" needs to be lined up right when you insert it into the cam.

 

$1.27 for the o-ring through honda

 

Where does it leak?

Leaks outside the distributor, running down the side of the head = external O-ring. That oneCAN bereplaced.

Leaking INTO the inside of the distributor (inside the distributor cap) would indicate the non-replacable seal.

 

For the truly determined, the internal seal can also be replaced. Not a trivial task, but w/i capability of most DIY'rs. I have a pdf file of this procedure. PM your email and I'll return the procedure.

regards

 

I replaced the internal seal and yes it can be done. My only problem is that my car is so old ('93) and the oil had been leaking for so long that it made all the wire casings brittle. When I pulled out the internal distributor parts to replace the seal, several wire casings cracked off. I tried taping them with electrical tape but items still shorted out. I was successful at replacing the seal but ended up getting a new distributor because of the other damage.

 

i am going to look at the car and will get back a bit later with the facts...
i am interested in the seal procedure.

 

Check out another couple possibilities right there at the distributor...

The last camshaft bearing capshould usesealant where itbolts down to the head. That can leak out right there immediately alongside the distributor.

Above/alongside the camshaft bearing cap is the valve cover gasket. That can get hardened from age & heat & start leaking. Check especially the corners where the VC-gasket goes up & over the cam-bearing cap.

If its a VTEC engine, oil may be leaking out from the VTEC spool valve nearby.

 

thanks everyone for the great input. i will have a chance to open the cap and such in a few days when the car is here. i looked at it yesterday briefly and really did not see any signs of leaking at the base. i am only going on what the machanic said and will have to open the distributor to inspect the insides for oil. there are however some other signs of leaks on the ground and when i get it jacked up hopefully i will able to tell more. i'll be back...