Rotor in the Distributor does not turn

1995 silverado has a distributor, remove the the distributor cap, make sure the distributor spins with the engine. also make sure the ignition rotor is not burned out or have a hole were it makes contact with the cap. also make sure the cap has a good carbon inside to make contact with the rotor, at this time get a screw driver, put it on the end of the wire from the coil to the cap, don't touch the metal part of the screwdriver, it will shock you if good, so put it at 5/16 from any metal on the engine, bracket, alternator , thermostat housing no matter, some one turns the engine over, check to see if the coil produces a spark, if the rotor turns, if ok it should have spark on all the wires, if it has no spark, remove the wire from the ignition coil and check if you have spak at the coil, if you have no spark, try getting a wire lead, connect it from the battery ground on one end, a screw driver on the coil to check for spark, and the other end of the wire with the key on, touch the - negative plug on the coil, that should produce a spark, if not spark yet, make sure you do have power at the coil with key on, if you do and it doesn't produce spark, replace coil. if it does spark but it is weak or yellow in color, replace coil. if coil is fine, replace distributor module,

I guess you could have the ignition analyzed on an oscilloscope. Maybe a tech could see something then.
I always heard the only gap was the spark plug gap-the rotor has no gap-are you sure you got the correct rotor? And does it touch the top distributor cap coil wire tower?

Let us know. It is a mystery worthy of a solution.

Was the timing chain damaged ?
Did you have spark from the coil before you replaced the other parts ?
Do you have battery voltage on the positive side of the coil with the key on and in crank mode ?
Is the coil wire not sparking, or are you not getting spark at the plugs ?
Is the distributor rotor turning when you crank the engine ?

Check the coil. This sends tdhe spark to the Distributor.

please post year and model ,also try the spare key first before you do anything else though its amazing how many symptoms like this are from a faulty key where the chip has fallen out of it

1 remove the cable from the coil to the distributor.
check this agains earth, when you turn the engine over.

if spark, suspect rotor arm is not setting spark to each spark plug lead.
open distributor and clean the rotor arm with a cloth or wire wool
not sand paper as this will take off too much and cause a problem

2 check inside distributor for moisture. spray inside with WD40 or equiventy water repelent.

3 if not spark at coil open distriutor cap and with ignition on, open and close points in distributor with a screw driver and check coil again against earth again if you get sparh, problem is points not opening and closing.

4 turn over engine with distributor cover removed to see if rotor arm is moving if not then cam drive to distributor is defective. this controls points and rotor arm.

if rotor arm turning and spark at points but no spark at coil suspect Low tension wiring or coil needs replacement.

i hope this was helpful

Since you replaced the coil I would guess you have no spark?

If your getting fuel and no spark the first thing I would check or replace is the ignition module. It is located in the distributor. If you getting no spark and no fuel (no injector pulse) I would replace the ignition module and the pick-up coil. The pickup coil is the round piece under the rotor in the distributor that plugs into the module. The distributor needs to be removed (mark the base where it is held in place and the position of the rotor before removing so that it can be reinstall din exactly the same position!!) and disassembled in order to replace the pick-up coil.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Hi, Hope I can help you.
I do not know how you have checked for spark, but lets start from the beginning.
Lets start with an ignition systems check.
1. I want you to remove the high voltage coil wire. ( That's the wire in the center of the distributor cap.) Using a good pair of insulated pliers. I want you to hold it about 1/4 inch from a good engine ground. Now you will need a bit of help from a partner. Get them to turn the key and crank the engine. You should see a bright blue and well defined spark. Ok, If you have spark I want you to slowly move the coil wire away from the engine ground. As you do this I want you to pay attention to the coil tower. (The coil tower is where the other end of the coil wire is attached.) What your looking for is arcing and sparking at the coil tower. If this happens then you need to replace the coil with a new one. If this does not happen then your coil is working fine, and we will have to move on.
Note if you do not get spark from the coil wire replace the coil.

2. Ok if you have spark now we have find out if the spark is making it to the spark plugs. How are we going to do this? By checking the rotor, distributor cap, spark plug wires and spark plugs.First lets remove the distributor cap. This will allow use to inspected the rotor and the distributor cap. What your looking for is, cracks, carbon tracks and wear at the tip of the rotor. On the distributor ,look inside the cap for cracks, carbon tracks and wear on the terminals. If you find any of this replace the distributor cap and rotor. ( Note if you have any doubt of the condition of the rotor or the cap replace them.) Next lets check your spark plug wires. Lets pull off one of the spark plug wires from the spark plug side. Now inspect the wire connection for a white crusty powder. If you find crust replace your wires. Now you should check all of them the same way, but if even one has corrosion replace them all. You are going to have to inspect the wire its self . Going down the whole length of the wire. Holes cracks burn Marks and other damage. Once again if you find any damage replace them all.
I hope this will help you and good luck to all the read this FixYa

Remove the distributor cap, so that the rotor is visible. Have an assistant turn the ignition to crank the engine over. If the rotor does not turn when the engine is cranking, then you need a timing belt or chain.

If the rotor does turn, then replace the coil.

I had the same problem with my 85 cj7 this week, I relpaced the ignition control module, plugs, wires, cap, rotor and the the coil; still had no fire to plugs. the problem turned out to be my distributor, replaced it today and she fired right up. Most likely it was the pick up module in the distributor that went bad.