3 distributors in 4 months. WTF?

[zijester]

I have 93 ls. I know the distributors in these cars are bad. So when the first one went out about 4 months ago, I went to autozone and got one with a lifetime warranty. Replaced it 3 times already. Last one lasted less than a week. My question is, is there anything that can cause the distributor to fail prematurely?

[TheRacingVolvo]

there's a reason they're so cheap, and come with a lifetime, warranty.

[HeidtMX-6]

There has to be something shorting Electrically, I'm not sure if it would make a difference but how are your plugs and Wires, and if it doesn't void the warranty, take the Disty Cap off and see if anything is frying in there.

Jason

[skiingman]

Originally Posted by zijester

I have 93 ls. I know the distributors in these cars are bad. So when the first one went out about 4 months ago, I went to autozone and got one with a lifetime warranty. Replaced it 3 times already. Last one lasted less than a week. My question is, is there anything that can cause the distributor to fail prematurely?

Yes, the fact that they don't have the updated ignitor assembly, nor do they generally even replace it in those cheap remans.

Go get a Mazda reman. Pay your 280 bucks, and you won't have this problem. Tell Autozone to give you your money back, and if they give you ****, make a fuss.
-Garrett

[schwinn]

Or, better yet, do the $20 ignitor mod/replacement... and prevent the problem from ever happening again!

[zijester]

Well I replaced it again this morning. This time it didnt even last couple of hours. I should mention I only have problems when the car is hot and at highway speeds. I know it has to be the distributor because the problem went away after I put in another one. What happens is when im driving over 65 and I take my foot off the pedal, the check engine light comes on and the hold button starts flashing. When I slow down to a stop all the lights return to normal until I accelrate again. If I turn the car off, and start it again everything is normal. I thought it was the tranny at first and was set to do a swap. But someone said to check the disti first and changed that and it was ok. Im really having a bad week. Damn taste of chicago.

[skiingman]

Originally Posted by zijester

Well I replaced it again this morning. This time it didnt even last couple of hours. I should mention I only have problems when the car is hot and at highway speeds. I know it has to be the distributor because the problem went away after I put in another one. What happens is when im driving over 65 and I take my foot off the pedal, the check engine light comes on and the hold button starts flashing. When I slow down to a stop all the lights return to normal until I accelrate again. If I turn the car off, and start it again everything is normal. I thought it was the tranny at first and was set to do a swap. But someone said to check the disti first and changed that and it was ok. Im really having a bad week. Damn taste of chicago.

Really, those Autozone parts just aren't going to work. Take Schwinn's advice and do the HEI mod, or spring for a Mazda disty.
-Garrett