3au distributor caps wiring re arrange - 1976 Cadillac Deville

Seriously? Um... do you know the firing order of your vehicle?
If not, you're sunk.
If so, place the secondary wire from the coil pack into the middle of the distributor cap, and arrange the spark plug wires in order of their proscribed firing.
If you do not understand, you'd better find a mechanic to help.

Your order is wrong, and you need to switch the wires around on the top of the distributor. First pull the distributor cap off to find direction of rotation (some distributors turn clockwise, and some turn counterclockwise). Watch the rotor, the black bar on top of distributor shaft, and note it's direction of travel while someone bumps the starter over with the ignition switch. Now you can put the dist. cap back on, and arrange the spark plug wires in order 1-3-4-2. Leave number 1 in place, if it is marked as 1 on the cap. The plug wires can be pulled out of the raised terminals in the distributor cap for setting them in order. Just be careful of pulling too ******* the wires, you can cause them to break internally. Twist them back and forth first to loosen them, and gently pull them out, using the plug wire's rubber boot if possible to pull on them.
If it is easier to pull the sparkplug wires off the spark plug, rather than the distributor cap, you could set the order that way. Just need to know the direction of rotor travel. Number1 will go to cylinder 1, and next in order will be number 3, following direction of rotation, so that wire goes to cylinder 3, and on to 4, then 2.
Post back if you need more help. Good luck.

Do this with the battery disconnected, after noting which way the engine is supposed to turn. I assume that the spark plug wires are connected in the proper order on the distributor cap.

1. Find the timing marks on the harmonic damper pulley (crankshaft pulley) and the engine block.
2. Use a big ratchet on the center pulley bolt/nut to turn the engine in its normal direction until the timing marks are lined up at 0°. You now have the number 1 cylinder in Top Dead Center firing position.
3. Identify the #1 spark plug post on the distributor cap. Rotate the distributor rotor until it would line up on this post if the cap is mounted on it.
4. If the distributor has a screwdriver-like shaft extension to drive the oil pump, you may need to use a long screwdriver to pre-position the corresponding slot on the oil pump to fit.
   
5. Make sure the rotor stays in the #1 position and insert the distributor into place in the engine block. You will probably have to shift the rotor slightly to engage the camshaft gear.
6. Clamp the distributor in place and assemble anything else that is needed for engine operation.

If the engine won't start, you are 180° off and the spark is firing at the end of the exhaust stroke instead of the compression stroke. The quick fix is to pull the distributor, taking care not to change the rotor position while doing so. Rotate the rotor exactly half-way around (180°) and put it back in. (An alternate quick fix on some distributors is to take the cap off and rotate it 180° - if the plug wires permit such a re-arrangement.) Once you get the engine started, you can fine-tune the timing.

Firing Orders
NOTE: To avoid confusion, remove and tag the spark plug wires one at a
time, for replacement.

If a distributor is not keyed for installation with only one orientation, it
could have been removed and installed improperly and then rewired. The new
wiring arrangement would maintain the correct firing order, but could change the
relative placement of the plug towers in relation to the engine. For this reason
it is imperative that you label all wires before disconnecting any of them.
Also, before removal, compare the current wiring with the accompanying
illustrations. If the current wiring does not match, make notes of the current
plug wire locations and orientation of the distributor cap.

5.7L Engine
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

7.4L Engine
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Below are diagrams of the cap and how the plug wires are arranged. on a 5.0 and 5.3 V8

Leave the spark plug wires attached and unscrew the screws that hold the cap on to the distributor. Pull the cap off and remove the rotor. There is a "key" on the rotor that will only allow the installation to happen in a certain way, so do not worry about not being able to align it properly. Now put the new cap on and move the wires over one at a time so you do not get them confused. If you do, accidentally or otherwise, get them out of order, here is a link to a diagram of the proper arrangement: autorepair.about.com/library/firing_orders/bl-fo-3730.htm

i hope this helps
-mathhew

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor turns clockwise Number one should be in the 5 oclock position. You should be able to draw an imaginary straight line between the coil tower and number one tower on the cap and the number one spark plug.

This can be a funny little problem but not so hard. #1 plug is closest to the timing cover and then 2,3,4 back to toward the transmission. With all the plug wires snapped on to the plugs and the cap ends hanging loose, label the cap ends with their corresponding hole number. Now we know that the firing order is 1-3-4-2 and the rotation is clockwise at the distributor end because hondas turn backwards. So there is only four possible combinations. Arrange the distributor cap wires in a clockwise direction: 1-3-4-2 for each four possibilities, and crank to try it. Chances are you'll hit it the second time - 50/50 odds anyway :-)

Distributor Cap Inspect | Replace The distributor cap should be removed for visual inspection. Check the cap for:



Inspect the distributor cap and rotor. Courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

• Distributor cap locating tab. This tab assures proper location of the cap onto the distributor housing.
• Distributor cap holddown. The distributor cap must be securely attached to the distributor housing to prevent contamination and to assure its location.
• Dirt and water in the cap. These contaminants will require additional voltage in order to fire the spark plug. If available voltage is not enough to overcome this resistance then no spark will occur at the spark plug.
• Center carbon insert. All of the high voltage coming through the coil on its way to the spark plug must pass through this insert. Any additional resistance caused by wear or contamination can cause the engine not to start or to misfire.
• Tower inserts. The inserts are made from aluminum or bass so it is possible for them to oxidize. Aluminum oxide is an abrasive that can cause excessive damage to the distributor. If the insert is made from brass then the oxidation will appear green in color.
• Cracks. If any cracks are present on the distributor cap then replacement of the part is required.
• Carbon tracking. Carbon tracking indicates that the high-voltage of electricity has found a low-resistance conductive path over or through the plastic. The result is a cylinder that fires at the wrong time, or a misfire.

Also check for:

• Physical or electrical damage is easily recognizable.
• Electrical damage from high voltage can include corroded or burned metal terminals and carbon tracking inside distributor caps.

Things to look for when inspecting a distributor cap.

• If the distributor cap has a mild buildup of dirt or corrosion, it should be cleaned. If it cannot be cleaned up, it should be replaced. Small round brushes are available to clean cap terminals.
• Wipe the cap and with a clean shop towel, but avoid cleaning these components in solvent or blowing them off with compressed air, which may contain moisture. Cleaning these components with solvent or compressed air may result in high-voltage leaks.
• Check the distributor cap and housing vents. Make sure they are not blocked or clogged. If they are, the internal ignition module will overheat. It is good practice to check these vents whenever a module is replaced.

Replace Distributor cap replacement instructions vary, so always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
General replacement procedures are as follows:

• For spring-loaded caps, unsnap the clips and remove the cap. When installing the new cap, make sure the clips are snapped back into place.
• For spring-loaded j-hook caps, push down and turn. It will unlock. Lift up to remove it. Position the new cap in place, then push down and turn to lock.
• For caps with screws, use a screwdriver to loosen the two screws. Install the new cap and use the screwdriver to tighten the screws. Don't overtighten.

It is a good idea when replacing the distributor cap to remove the cap with the ignition wires attached. After you have installed the new cap, transfer the wires one by one onto the cap in their correct position. This way the firing order is accurate. If, for some reason after you replace the distributor cap, your vehicle does not function normally, check your firing sequence.
The distributor cap is mounted on top of the distributor assembly and an alignment notch in the cap fits over a matching lug on the housing. Therefore the cap can only be installed in one position, which assures the correct firing sequence. There is a tab or notch somewhere on the distributor body that must align somewhere on the distributor body that must align with a corresponding tab or notch in the cap. Once again, do not force something.
The rotor should be inspected and/or replaced when the distributor cap is replaced.

Firing Order Each cylinder of an engine must produce power once in every 720 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Each cylinder must have a power stroke at its own appropriate time during the rotation. To make this possible, the pistons and rods are arranged in a precise fashion. This is called the engine's firing order. The firing order is arranged to reduce rocking and imbalance problems. Because the potential for this rocking is determined by the design and construction of the engine, the firing order varies from engine to engine. Vehicle manufacturers simplify cylinder identification by numbering each cylinder.



Examples of typical firing order.
Regardless of the particular firing order used, the #1 cylinder always starts the firing order, with the rest of the cylinders following in a fixed sequence. The ignition system must be able to monitor the rotation of the crankshaft and the relative position of each piston to determine which piston is on its compression stroke. It must also be able to deliver a high-voltage surge to each cylinder at the proper time during its compression stroke. How the ignition system does these things depends on the design of the system.