Hi all

is there a secret to removing the distributor cap on my 1994 6.0. Screws are undone but it seems stuck fast. I’m reluctant to exert pressure as it appears to be a Marelli cap.

I also have play in the throttle linkage. Is there a bushing missing? On the photo I have tried to indicate where the play is.

Best wishes

Pierre



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There should be a hard rubber bush in that hole, this is the item:

Manners etc etc all have them.
Remove the rod from the hole, then warm it up in hot water and with a lick of washing up fluid, it should push in with a bit of effort! Manners etc etc all have them.

 

Great - thanks Greg. Bushings ordered for the throttle linkage.

Any suggestions out there on how to free a stuck distributor cap without damaging it?

 

If you are 100% sure all the screws are out, then it is just age and maybe a deteriorating gasket holding it on. Make a clear map of where each of the HT leads goes, marking them all, and then remove them. Get your hands round the cap and try to rock the car and it should come off.
Now I have never removed a Marelli cap, only Lucas, so if you want the story from a marelli guy, PM Orangeblossom.

 

As long as the three screws are undone it will come off. Mines a Marelli and they do stick a bit. If it’s an original Marelli cap they are very well made and I think you would have to go some to break it.
Rob.

 

Just a note on those linkage bushes - the ones I was supplied with were made of a very rubbish rubber quality - they were very non-pliable but it felt like this was because of degradation from age/time on the shelf, rather than them being designed from the outset to be soft/compliant. I almost tore one pushing it home with a screwdriver.
If you can find some more modern ones made of polyurethane or similar, i'd get those.

 

the previous owner might have used an adhesive on the cap instead of the gasket.
not a good idea but it happens.
if the replacement caps are still impossible to get you should leave it alone until it has to be replaced.
I replaced all the broken jaguar bushes with nylon with no problems.