Distributor cap

[lightyears]

As part of my service plans I want to change the cap and rotor on my 740 B230E engine. I noticed that it appears to have a hall sensor on the back with the cap, ive google it and for the life of me I can't figure out whether the cap itself has the hall sensor built in or is it built into the back plate thus changing the cap and rotor quite easy. Any feedback would be greatly helped.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by lightyears

As part of my service plans I want to change the cap and rotor on my 740 B230E engine. I noticed that it appears to have a hall sensor on the back with the cap, ive google it and for the life of me I can't figure out whether the cap itself has the hall sensor built in or is it built into the back plate thus changing the cap and rotor quite easy. Any feedback would be greatly helped.

The sensor is not part of the cap.

Is yours the block mounted distributor or the rear of the head mounted? Some early B230s still had the block mount dizzy but they're pretty few and far between.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by lightyears

As part of my service plans I want to change the cap and rotor on my 740 B230E engine. I noticed that it appears to have a hall sensor on the back with the cap, ive google it and for the life of me I can't figure out whether the cap itself has the hall sensor built in or is it built into the back plate thus changing the cap and rotor quite easy. Any feedback would be greatly helped.

I've cleaned cap and rotor last week. Don't know if yours is at the back or the front side. If it's at the back, there is this guide: https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-repl...otor-and-seals

My rotor just refused to come off, but i wasn't changing it, just cleaning, so i cleaned it in place. You might have to pry it off with a screwdriver. Are you replacing seals?

[lightyears]

It’s on the back, now I’ve looked closer I can see it’s two parts, I assume I just buy a replacement cap and rotor arm?

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by lightyears

It’s on the back, now I’ve looked closer I can see it’s two parts, I assume I just buy a replacement cap and rotor arm?

Maybe it's worth checking condition first and clean if it's not bad. It's held by 3 (i believe 8mm) nuts. Cap has 3 parts, the cap itself and the black cover which has 2 parts. Easy to separate so you can clean them separately.
If your rotor, like mine, isn't coming off the distributor, either clean it there or order a spare before attempting to take it out cause it may break. Supposedly it comes off straight, without twisting or anything. Mine was just stuck so i didn't force it.

That guide i linked also teaches how to change the outer seal behind the rotor. Then i guess there are the other washers inside behind the distributor, which require taking the distributor off completely.
Might be worth disassembling first and check condition, see if there is oil and whatnot to see whether you also need to look for the seal. It takes 5 mins to disassemble the cap.