Servicing the ignition distributor (VW Sharan 1)

The distributor cap should be regularly checked for cracks and cleaned from carbon dust and moisture inside and out. The distributor rotor should also be cleaned. Use a rag soaked in gasoline to clean it.

Servicing of the ignition distributor is carried out in the following order:

• unclip the distributor cap clamps, disconnect the ground cable and remove the distributor cap together with the high voltage wires;
• replace the distributor rotor if its contacts are worn. Do not re-sharpen or file brass contacts under any circumstances;
• when replacing the distributor rotor, use only the specified rotor (for 2.0 liter engine only). The runner is labeled R1;
• there is a dust washer under the distributor runner. It can also be removed;
• when installing the washer and distributor runner, pay attention to the locking spouts;
• if there are small black marks on the inside of the distributor cap, this indicates spark discharges. They can be carefully scraped off with a knife. The scraped surface should be covered with nail polish if the cap cannot be replaced;
• disconnect all high voltage wires from the ignition distributor, clean and check their connection points and the ends of the high voltage wires.

Keep the high voltage wires clean. Remove moisture to ensure good electrical current flow in the ignition system. High voltage wires should not be cut to correct poor contacts, but should always be replaced. A new high voltage wire should only be ordered according to the spare part number for the corresponding engine.