Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 25

Thread: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

  1. #1
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    I'm trying to replace the distributor o-ring in my ST185 GT4. I was informed that it was leaking and upon removing the dizzy cap noticed that there was some oil in it, as well as around the bottom of the distributor.

    Problem is that when I pulled the distributor out, there didn't seem to be an o-ring on the distributor housing

    The manual seems to suggest that the o-ring simply goes on the end of the distributor drive shaft when you install it.

    The o-ring seems about the right size to fit over the shaft (see pics), but the fact that there wasn't one on it has me a little puzzled

    So - any ideas where the o-ring should go?



  2. #2
    Touching Automotive Encyclopaedia Aust162's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    879

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    I've had the exact same problem. brought the oring from toyota and pulled the dissy out. i cant seem to find out where it goes! about 1cm away from the bottom, see how there is that thicker, hard oring seal?i thougth that was is, but the replacement is way too skinny

    i ended up putting it back together..for the mean time. still leaking
    Hopefully you find out how to do it. sorry i couldnt help much..
    *hearts* his 4age powered KE70 Panelvan!
    Hi, Im enthused about corollas..

  3. #3
    Junior Member Domestic Engineer tricky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    628

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Could the o-ring they have supplied be incorrect, or do you have a definite part number? I beleive there should only be one o-ring, and that is in fact the square edged one as pictured.

    And to alert you to another problem: If your dizzy has oil IN it, it also has a leak up the shaft. I'm not going to claim that I know about the internal oil control mechanism on the 3s dizzy, but maybe you should check this too.

  4. #4
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Quote Originally Posted by tricky
    Could the o-ring they have supplied be incorrect, or do you have a definite part number? I beleive there should only be one o-ring, and that is in fact the square edged one as pictured.
    The o-ring was supplied by Toyota after I have them my VIN number so it should be correct. I thought the black part in the pictures was the o-ring but it is metal rather than rubber.

    The manual simply says to remove the old o-ring and install a new one, so I thought it would be obvious where it goes

  5. #5
    Junior Member Backyard Mechanic
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    337

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    You sure that black part is 'metal'.... if your o-ring is stuffed ... it could've hardened quite significantly and worn into a flat shape. I can't remember cause i haven't done this in a long time, but i'd say that's your o-ring there, and you should be able to dig it out and stick the new one in.
    If there's one thing I know, it's never to mess with mother nature, mother in-laws and mother freaking Ukrainians

  6. #6
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Pretty sure it's metal - certainly didn't seem to be rubber. I'll check it again.

    This diagram from the manual suggests that it just goes on the shaft

    http://ugbox.net/~lance/GT4/Technica...istributor.pdf

  7. #7
    spanner swinger Grease Monkey shaggin_wagon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    nsw
    Posts
    181

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    yeah mate that black ring near the body of the dizzy is the 'o'ring. stick a small screwdiver under the endge of him and give a bit of a twist and it should break apart and come off. ive had to do the same thing on my brother kh laser and it had gone really hard and developed a hard edge on it. god luck to you with getting rid of that leak

  8. #8
    Forum Sponsor Grease Monkey
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    nsw
    Posts
    197

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    As tricky said the leak is probably between the shaft and the housing so i doubt that changing that o ring will fix it.
    I changed the o ring on my sv21 and it made no difference and almost every toyota dizzy i have seen leaks the same.
    I havn't been able to get a toyota dizzy apart to see what the seal inside looks like but I have for a honda dizzy (both denso anyway) and the seal looked like a mini rear main seal, rubber with a circular spring pushing on the shaft.

  9. #9
    Junior Member Backyard Mechanic 3sgte's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    As noted, the black square profile thing about 1cm from the dist housing is the o-ring.

    The fact that it is square, and hardened is a sure sign that it is deader than a do-do.
    I have changed many an o-ring, and I can guarantee that that old one would leak in that state.

    On some of the older 3/5sfe and 3SG motors, the valve cover gasket would leak very close to where the distributor is. Given the proximity to the distributor, it is very easy to mis-identify as a distributor leak. When replacing the valve cover gasket, care is necessary to remove the old silicone from the corner by the cap, and apply a dab of silicone to stop oil leaking from the 90 degree corners where the gasket goes over the cap (the "bearing cap" that holds the distributor).
    I have seen very few shaft seals leak on Toyota distributors.

    You appear to have the correct o-ring. Give it a go, I would say that you should be good.

  10. #10
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Thanks for the advice guys. The black ring was indeed hardened and flattened rubber. I broke it off and the new o-ring went straight into place.

    Now I've just got to get the bloody distributor back in - hope it's easier than it was to get out

    Anyway - if I ever get it all back together again I'll let you know if it fixed the leak.

  11. #11
    spanner swinger Grease Monkey shaggin_wagon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    nsw
    Posts
    181

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    hey mate did u get ya dizzy back in??? they should only go in one way cos of it being keyed and not tooth driven.

  12. #12
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Yeah I got it back in. Still haven't got the car on the road yet, so not sure if it fixed the leak.

    I had to rotate the crankshaft another full revolution to get the intake cam in the right position to insert the dizzy. The fact that it was the wrong way around meant that I must have had the crank at 0 on the ignition stroke instead of the exhaust stroke (or the other way around) - I guess I had 50/50 chance

    Went back in quite easily when I got everything in the right position!

  13. #13
    Former User Conversion King Joshstix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    2,114

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    If the leak is internal, which it sounds like from your descripion, you can buy a seal kit to replace the internal seal as well from http://www.kbox.ca/catalog/product_i...products_id=68.

  14. #14
    Gone from 005 to XR5! Automotive Encyclopaedia Matty P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Thanks for the link.

    Wouldn't it be a speacialist job to replace the inner seal and bearing?

    Has anyone used one of these kits? What is the quality like?

  15. #15
    GT4 Freak, and Conversion King Squid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    2,358

    Default Re: 3S-GTE Distributor o-ring

    Quote Originally Posted by tricky
    And to alert you to another problem: If your dizzy has oil IN it, it also has a leak up the shaft. I'm not going to claim that I know about the internal oil control mechanism on the 3s dizzy, but maybe you should check this too.
    Not much of a shaft on a 3S-GTE dizzy! see http://ugbox.net/~lance/GT4/Technica...istributor.pdf

    Also near impossible (but not completely) to replace with intercooler on

Similar Threads

  1. 5S FE to 3S GE
    By adam golder in forum Tech and Conversions
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 05-10-2007, 09:47 PM
  2. oils an't oils what to use in a 3s gte?????
    By sirbabblealot in forum Tech and Conversions
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 14-02-2006, 09:26 PM
  3. 3S BEAMS & 6 speed Altezza gear box into KE30 chassie
    By ToDa30/4 in forum Tech and Conversions
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 03-01-2006, 10:59 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •