Jaguar Repair: I THINK I DROP A SCREW, screw out, vacuum line

Question
QUESTION: HI HOWARD
I WAS TRYING TO REMOVE THE SCREWS FROM THE PICKUP COIL
WHEN TRYING TO REPLACE THEM I THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE
DROPPED A SCREW DOWN IN THE DISTRIBUTOR IF THAT BEING
SO HOW DO I GET THE SCREW OUT ALSO I CAN'T GET THE ROTOR
BUTTON OFF NEITHER THE PICKUP COIL AFTER TAKING THE SCREWS
OUT.DO I HAVE TO REMOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR?
REGARDS,
RICHARD

ANSWER: Hi Richard,

What kind of Jaguar is this?

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1987 xj6 4.2 ltr series 111 6cylinder  4dr sadan
regards,
RICHARD

Answer
Hi Richard,

The distributor rotor can get stuck on the shaft and over the years I have had to pry some off and even had a couple that were so hard to remove that I broke the rotor prying it off. If you have to pry it off you need to put a block of something on the edge of the distributor because you can not pry on the plastic dust cover over the pick-up and reluctor. I take it that your plastic dust cover is missing or you would not even see the pick-up? Don't pry against the pick-up or the reluctor.

If it were mine I would remove the distributor as all work on it will be much easier on the bench. You may even be able to shake the screw out that way.

The hold-down for the distributor is secured to the block by a bolt and the distributor is held in place by a pinch bolt.

It is easier for me to just loosen the pinch bolt and unplug the wires from the module and remove the vacuum line and rotate the distributor back and forth as you pull up on it leaving the mounting on the engine. Try to note the exact position of the vacuum advance unit before you start so you will be close to the correct timing when you put it back. The shaft has an offset blade on it so you can not get it very far out of time when you install it. You will still need to rest the ignition timing with a timing light.

Next question I have is, why are you changing the pick-up coil? I found it very rare that they fail. The most failures I seen was the module which has a GM module inside it. (use to be about $35. at most auto parts stores) but is has been several years since I replaced one.

Howard