Deerhunter30
New member
One weakness that I found in my Jeep last weekend was getting water in the distributor. Any tips to prevent this? Possibly a shield or someghing?
Water on/in distributor
- Thread starter Deerhunter30
- Start date
YES,my cj had the same problem.I got new plug wires,and a new didsributer cap.Then I bought a can of spray silican then sparay em' on the distributer cap as you are putting it on,and after it is on,to form water ploofer.You should also spray the plug wires near the distributer.This helped me tons.The plug wires help it start easier and silican to keep the water out.
PASmokeater
New member
I found this on a friends site....should aply to your Jeep too.
PART THREE: IGNITION WATERPROOFING AND IMPROVEMENTS
This is the only part where you actually have to do anything requiring much effort, besides crawling under the truck to install the vent hoses.
Plug wires:make sure they're in good shape. I put a little bead of RTV inside the boots on both ends, plus a little bit around the joint where the boot ends and wire begins (I guess I'm kinda a belt-and-suspenders man when it comes to this).
Distributor: I have read of some pretty exotic treatments here regarding closed-cell foam and duct tape, but I have found it to not be necessary. The distributor on the 4.2L is rather low, below the spark plugs, but my system works quite well. I have never had any problem with water in the distributor, which is quite regularly totally and deeply under water. What I did was pull the cap off, and run a bead of silicone around the bottom of the cap, where it meets the distributor body. That's it. Accel and perhaps other aftermarket caps have an o-ring around the bottom of the cap, so if you have one of these, you probably don't even have to bother.
This leads into the promised improvement.... if you have a '77 and up 4.2L, switch to the Ford 8MM two-piece distributor cap. This will help with the cross-fire problem inherent to these engines. Run a little RTV around the bottom of the base cap, then also at the top, where the top piece goes on. There is a double lip on the top cap to fit over the base part, so this may not be necessary, but I do it anyway. Another advantage to the two piece caps is the flapper valve vent on them. I suppose you could modify that just like the drive-train, but I haven't bothered.
Rob 8)
PART THREE: IGNITION WATERPROOFING AND IMPROVEMENTS
This is the only part where you actually have to do anything requiring much effort, besides crawling under the truck to install the vent hoses.
Plug wires:make sure they're in good shape. I put a little bead of RTV inside the boots on both ends, plus a little bit around the joint where the boot ends and wire begins (I guess I'm kinda a belt-and-suspenders man when it comes to this).
Distributor: I have read of some pretty exotic treatments here regarding closed-cell foam and duct tape, but I have found it to not be necessary. The distributor on the 4.2L is rather low, below the spark plugs, but my system works quite well. I have never had any problem with water in the distributor, which is quite regularly totally and deeply under water. What I did was pull the cap off, and run a bead of silicone around the bottom of the cap, where it meets the distributor body. That's it. Accel and perhaps other aftermarket caps have an o-ring around the bottom of the cap, so if you have one of these, you probably don't even have to bother.
This leads into the promised improvement.... if you have a '77 and up 4.2L, switch to the Ford 8MM two-piece distributor cap. This will help with the cross-fire problem inherent to these engines. Run a little RTV around the bottom of the base cap, then also at the top, where the top piece goes on. There is a double lip on the top cap to fit over the base part, so this may not be necessary, but I do it anyway. Another advantage to the two piece caps is the flapper valve vent on them. I suppose you could modify that just like the drive-train, but I haven't bothered.
Rob 8)
Joopin
Super Moderator
If you do get water under the distributor, few people know this quick remedy... spray WD-40 under the cap! I swear it dries it right up. My dad did that to my distributor when I couldn't get a spark one day and I thought he was crazy and just making it worse. But it works great! FYI
PASmokeater
New member
Chem-tool works great to...Saved my hide a couple of times. LOL
Rob 8)
Rob 8)
Snitty
New member
I've used chemtool... they also make a chemical that is intended for drying ignitions... but chemtool is my weapon of choice... cleans crank, cleans injectors, displaces water when sucked into intake, displaces water on ignition, patriotic red white and blue bottle, and one sniff is good for waking you up in the morning
19wrangler89
New member
WD-40 is key
Deerhunter30
New member
Thanks for all the help guys. I think that I will try the dielectric grease trick or the silicone and RTV trick. I mastered drying it out once wet last weekend. I would like to try and keep it from getting wet next time.
firemanharry
New member
If you totally seal the cap to the top of the distibutor, you'll have to vent it to keep condensation out. Drill the top of the cap and rig a vent similar to the vents on your rears.
