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Does cutting notches in distributor caps really help
- Thread starter Rosenfe
- Start date
Help, yes.
100% cure, maybe, maybe not.
Read this entire thread. You also must eliminate oil leaks from the intake camshaft advance solenoids.
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100% cure, maybe, maybe not.
Read this entire thread. You also must eliminate oil leaks from the intake camshaft advance solenoids.
FYI - Essential M119 Ignition "Tune Up" mods [Distributor cap vent / slot] | M119 Engine
Hi all, I have been meaning to address this on my little used 500E for years.... it is a problem I myself recognised about 5 years ago when I first looked at an m119 distributer cap..... Compare to any other distributor cap of the era such as an m104 and you will see there are NO ventilation...
I had ignored that recommendation for 6 years. With 5 cap and rotor changes during that time, I finally decided to give it a try. It's been two months during which the car has been driven only 60 miles and I had zero issues so far. I'll fully believe it if the car emerges from its winter slumber without misfiring, but the early indication seems to be that folks were totally right that cutting these slots is a must
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+ 1 on cutting notches! I've had my 500E for 10 years, and during the first two years always had intermittent problems caused by damp in the caps. Then someone who knew about these things (he was a car tech who I think had administered the same treatment to a 500SL with similar issues), suggested cutting notches in each cap - and since then (8 years) - no problems.
And that includes no problems after 5 months laid up in a cold garage each winter.
And that includes no problems after 5 months laid up in a cold garage each winter.
same here,no more issues since slotting the caps.
I recently bought bosch caps from mcflaps online. Two different locations, two different prices. One set looked like they were used returns and sent back. THe other set had the bolts removed and they were allowed to bounce about inside the cap space and scratched up the surface pretty badly. They both had an additional cut from the factory, either around 10 or 2 so to speak, I cannot remember which side but definitely we had an additional factory cut.
Does cutting notches in distributor caps really help
I did that in 2013, and not to brag about myself but AFAIK I was the first one introducing and proving the idea here. However, I did it to help myself and it has worked ever since. Read the following post if you like to see what triggered me to do this cut outs:
Stripped bolt heads on distributor rotors: How to remove?? HELP | M119 Engine
Hi guys, I tried to replace my old rotors and could not do it :hammerhead: It is 3 mm hex but it spins inside of a bolt (either bolt was crap or it was too tight) anyway now tree bolts are completely gone:pissed: , they are round inside instead of angular 3mm hex. :fun: So ... any ideas how...
It's Dreml time!
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Caps replacement is highly overestimated on these engines due to the missing ventilation causing running issues on cold starts, especially in humid climate conditions. The entrapped moisture do also give the caps a very bad appearance inside and they may look worn out. But don't panic - clean the contact points and as long as they're not totally burnt down, put it back and be happy. I say this based on a statement from member @Klink and his lifelong experience with the M119 engines.
Yup, this is normal... Bosch caps have a single "extra" cut separate from the two pairs of 3 slots. Beru/Doduco rotors do not have this. You still need to cut the additional slots as shown in @500AMM's pictures at post #47 (click here).
I did it about 4 years and 3000 miles ago. I can vouch for the modification and its effectiveness. It gets cold and humid where I am and sometimes the car would sit idle for 4 - 6 weeks.
Interestingly, I removed both caps. One side had some factory cuts and was dry. The other side no cuts and moisture was present. I cut slots in both. Thanks for all the replies.
I struggled with the mystery goop in the distributor for three sets of caps/rotors til I cut the slots and replaced the cam timing O rings about 18 months agoHelp, yes.
100% cure, maybe, maybe not.
Read this entire thread. You also must eliminate oil leaks from the intake camshaft advance solenoids.
FYI - Essential M119 Ignition "Tune Up" mods [Distributor cap vent / slot] | M119 Engine
Hi all, I have been meaning to address this on my little used 500E for years.... it is a problem I myself recognised about 5 years ago when I first looked at an m119 distributer cap..... Compare to any other distributor cap of the era such as an m104 and you will see there are NO ventilation...
no issues since.cutting slots in my caps solved the problem!
