Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 14, 2011 | 06:12 PM
  #1  
Mr Froman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From: DE
Car: 1990 Firebird Formula
Engine: LB9 - 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73, LSD
Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

The distributor is less than a year old. If I start the engine up after it has been driven (still hot) it will hum for a minute or so. Oil pressure is around 30, where it has been for as long as I can remember. If I touch the dist. cap, the vibrations match the noise I feel. I don't think it's my main bearings because I think I'd hear that all the time. The pinion on the end of the dist. looked fine when I looked at it in August.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2011 | 07:02 PM
  #2  
TreeFiddy's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 6
From: Sydney, Australia
Car: '86 TA
Engine: '74 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

Is the rotor hitting the inside of the cap? Maybe cap's on slightly crooked somehow.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2011 | 07:04 PM
  #3  
Mr Froman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From: DE
Car: 1990 Firebird Formula
Engine: LB9 - 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73, LSD
Re: Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

Doubt it, the noise goes away a minute or so after start up. Rotor and cap look unharmed.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2011 | 09:40 PM
  #4  
Damon's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 13
From: Philly, PA
Re: Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

Check the condition of the distributor gear teeth (pull the distributor out). See if there is play in the distributor shaft bushings while you have it out.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2011 | 05:05 AM
  #5  
Mr Froman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From: DE
Car: 1990 Firebird Formula
Engine: LB9 - 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73, LSD
Re: Humming noise heard/felt on dist cap

The teeth look fine. I think the bushing may be bad. I didn't feel play but it wouldn't surprise me if it was defective anyway.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pjsparts
Tech / General Engine
11
Oct 29, 2025 06:39 PM
db057
TBI
3
Jan 10, 2020 08:55 PM
gta892000
TPI
13
Aug 11, 2019 11:16 AM
Saxondale
History / Originality
6
Sep 15, 2015 06:42 PM
earlpote
TPI
9
Sep 12, 2015 11:55 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:58 PM.