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Distributor Rotor Arm snapped off inside the Cam

3926 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  francisellis78, 
L
It's on a P reg 1996, Volvo 850 S, with the 5 cyl 2.4l engine.
I was driving home when I started to get a real bad misfire then it spluttered and stalled, got the AA out and after a while of checking spark plugs (Nº1 was firing), master lead (also nice healthy spark) etc. he finally removed the Distributor Cap and the rotor arm fell out in several pieces!
When he checked it he noticed the bolt that went into the end of the Cam was broken.

I can't afford to take it to a garage (would cost more than the car worth!) so wanted to try and do the work myself, so got a guy at work to knock me up a Drill guide to sit in where the Distributor cap fits and have drilled a centre pilot hole through the end of the bolt.
My question is What should the end of that bolt look like? I can't find any pictures of one in the internet and can't find any technical specs as to what size thread it would be (if indeed it's even a threaded bolt?)
Been looking on the net and it keeps showing a Rotor Arm with three screws on it as the one for my car? The AA man took the old one away so I couldn't see it. There's no where to screw them in so how does this work?

Can someone help? I don't want to drill it to 10mm to tap it out then find out it's a 9mm bolt! or that it's part of the cam I'm drilling!
I don't have a driveway or garage to work in so can't strip the engine ad remove the Cam, plus I wouldn't feel confident enough about resetting the cam cog/belts, timing etc.

Some pics of the cam end before drilling pilot hole, I'll try and get some new ones tomorrow.







Any help would be much appreciated!

Many Thanks

Luke.
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Well the rotor doesn't bolt directly to the cam. A locating plate bolts to the cam and then the 3 screws on the rotor screw into it. If you don't have any of the pieces, you're in trouble. That's not a commonly stocked item at the dealer and the aftermarket probably doesn't have such a thing. Also that seal there looks terrible and is leaking. you should replace it before putting it back together. there is also a larger gray dirt/dust/water shield that's supposed to be under the cap also. Did he just toss everything before even looking at what it was?

edit: yes that is the end of the cam you are drilling into if you have any doubts. the plate has a locating tab that fits that slot in the cam so going oversize bolt won't be an issue as long as you do it right. if you mess up you're looking at finding a new cam.
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Hopefully Luke reports back on how everything went.
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I badly need help....please

J10Brook said:
Well the rotor doesn't bolt directly to the cam. A locating plate bolts to the cam and then the 3 screws on the rotor screw into it. If you don't have any of the pieces, you're in trouble. That's not a commonly stocked item at the dealer and the aftermarket probably doesn't have such a thing. Also that seal there looks terrible and is leaking. you should replace it before putting it back together. there is also a larger gray dirt/dust/water shield that's supposed to be under the cap also. Did he just toss everything before even looking at what it was?

edit: yes that is the end of the cam you are drilling into if you have any doubts. the plate has a locating tab that fits that slot in the cam so going oversize bolt won't be an issue as long as you do it right. if you mess up you're looking at finding a new cam.
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This post is quite old. but i still give a try to read it and yea i'm hooked..To the thread starter thanks for posting. I'm here because i have the same problem. I was driving home when a truck came out of my way and BOOM! I've been hit...Luckily i was alive. But the big problem was a big snap on the distributor rotor arm. I'm not a mechanic and I have no idea what to do...Please help. Also I would like to replace other parts attached on my rockstar. Do you know how to replace a distributor cap and pinion? Is there any manual available for it....Any help would likely be appreciated...Thanks in advance:eek::eek::eek:
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