How to Buy the Right Car Distributor

March 20, 2025

6 min read

March 20, 2025

6 min read

The distributor is the most critical component of your car’s ignition system. Unfortunately, the distributor can also be tricky to install, sensitive to subpar components, and hard to set up properly. The good news is, it’s rarely the whole distributor that fails. Usually, a few small and simple spare parts can get the whole system running right again. After the distributor is installed and tuned correctly, they rarely go wrong.

To replace the whole distributor yourself, read our how-to guide and video on replacing a distributor - opens in new window or tab..

What to Know Before Buying a New Distributor

A vintage four-cylinder engine with a new distributor and vibrant blue spark plug wires. — Replace the spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor prior to swapping out the distributor.

Before you take the plunge and buy a new distributor, you should eliminate other failures that can cause the same symptoms as a bad distributor. Ensure your spark plugs and spark plug wires, ignition coil, battery, and fuel system are working properly. Then, check the easily replaceable parts of the distributor itself: the distributor cap and rotor. Those wear out and fail more quickly than the rest of the assembly but are cheap and easy to replace.

It helps to understand how a distributor works. A distributor is geared to the rotating assembly of the engine. Inside the distributor, there is a rotor that spins and makes contact with the distributor cap. Each time it makes contact, it closes a circuit and sends power through the cap, down a spark plug wire, and to the spark plug.

The cap and rotor wear out naturally. Replacing them is a cinch. They pop off and back into place without any tools. If you have a problem with the distributor, buying and installing a new cap and rotor could be all you need.

Maybe you have replaced the cap and rotor already, as well as the plugs and plug wires, and you still have a distributor problem. With those variables eliminated, the process of buying a new distributor is pretty simple.

How do you find a distributor that fits your car?

Use the eBay Parts Finder - opens in new window or tab. to get the correct distributor for your car. With the Parts Finder, narrow your search down by year, make, model, engine, and trim level to make sure you’re considering the correct parts.

Stock replacement is the easiest path. However, if your vehicle is old enough to have a points ignition system, consider upgrading to a solid-state system. Now is also a great time to decide whether to upgrade to an HEI distributor or add an aftermarket ignition box. We cover all those questions in our article on DIY distributor upgrades - opens in new window or tab.. When you find the right upgrade, use the eBay Parts Finder to get what you need.

Distributor Cost

A red VMS distributor cap, rotor, and spark plug wire set for 1988-1991 Honda Civics, displayed on a white background. — Brightly colored distributor caps and spark plug wires won’t make your car any faster, but they look cool.

Unless you’re just replacing the cap, rotor, and plug wires, the necessary parts come out a cost.

You can get good distributors for mass-produced domestic and Japanese cars for less than $200. The same parts for more expensive European luxury or performance cars likely cost double or triple that, especially if you’re upgrading the distributor.

If you’re having a shop install your new distributor, budget a couple of hours of shop time and expect the labor rate to be around $100 an hour. That means that for parts and labor, expect the bill to climb north of $500 and likely closer to $1,000.

Types of Distributors

An OEG HEI distributor for small-block and big-block General Motors V-8 engines with a clear cap, displayed on a white background. — You don’t often see a clear cap on an HEI distributor for small-block and big-block GM V-8 engines.

There are a couple of different types of distributors. Which one you have depends on how old your car is and whether it was modified. Before the 1970s, distributors initiated a spark with a circuit breaker system colloquially known as points. Points work fine but require regular maintenance that involves using a feeler gauge. After carmakers were able to switch away from them, they did.

The most common type of distributor has a solid-state transistor instead of points. They’re more reliable and produce a predictable spark. It’s a pretty easy job to switch from points to solid state. If your car came with points, there’s a good chance it has been swapped by now.

Finally, if you have a GM vehicle from the 1980s or later, chances are it has an HEI distributor. It combines the distributor and the ignition coil to produce a higher-voltage spark. HEI distributors are easy to spot because the cap includes the coil. It looks like a box molded into the cap.

Before replacing your distributor

Distributor rebuild kits are widely available. They are meant to replace the wear items within the distributor. This usually means the kit includes a new cap, rotor, and points or igniter. This is probably all that’s wrong with your distributor. It’s tougher to find rebuild kits that replace worn-out bushings or the shaft in the lower section of the distributor.

HEI distributor rebuild kits are also widely available. They add the high-energy coil to the cap, rotor, and igniter that come in other rebuild kits. If you can’t find a specific kit for your car, you can buy separate parts for a rebuild.

Parts You Should Replace With Your Distributor

An ACDelco kit with a distributor cap, rotor, and eight spark plugs, displayed on a white background. — This ACDelco kit for 1966 through 1970 GM V-8 engines includes a distributor cap, rotor, and eight spark plugs.

A new distributor usually comes with a new cap and rotor. Spark plug wires are typically sold separately. The spark plugs and ignition coil can technically be left in place when swapping in a new distributor, but it makes sense to replace them while you’re at it. Remember that this is an ignition system. Look at all the parts involved for wear before you make your parts order. Check if those spark plug wires are worn down or busted. Check if the spark plugs are fouled.

Then again, you can just replace all these easy and affordable parts at once. It’s no great expense to add plugs and wires to your order. It can save time in what might feel like a long diagnosis.

About the author

Aaron Richardson

Aaron learned early on that it's easier to be decent at a bunch of stuff than great at one thing, which led neatly to a career as a writer. He has been an automotive writer, a newspaper editor, and a business reporter, and has always worked on his own cars and bikes. When he isn't writing stories, he's wrenching on a '74 BMW 2002 or riding a motorcycle.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.