Time to resolve distributor ‘issues’

Dear Mike: I have a 1988 Dodge Eagle Premier with a 3.0 V-6 Renault engine and a four-speed, water-cooled transmission. The car has approximately 210,000 miles on it, but I replaced the entire dash twice, so I’m not sure of the exact mileage. I have driven the car for over six years.

I have replaced the cap and rotor numerous times, and when it rains the car won’t start unless I remove and dry the distributor and rotor. The wires are about 2 years old (but I purchased top of the line). I have manufactured new gaskets for the cup in the distributor, but that didn’t help.

Also, there is oil leaking from the distributor shaft, so when I remove the cap, oil drops onto the v-belt (about a half teaspoon), but the cup is dry. What should I do? The car runs well otherwise and everything works. It gets anywhere from 28 to 30 miles per gallon on regular fuel.

A: The bushing and seal on the distributor’s rotating shaft have failed. Crankcase vapors, rich in moisture and oil, are entering the distributor. You need to correct these issues, and then perhaps find out why the crankcase ventilation system (PCV) isn’t doing its job. Check for a bad/plugged/incorrect PCV valve, or a leaky connection between the PCV valve and its vacuum source.

Dear Mike: I’m having a heck of a time with my ‘65 Pontiac Le Mans. The original two-speed Powerglide either wasn’t being fixed properly or I just drove it too hard. It finally jammed up. My mechanic told me he couldn’t fix it and put in a replacement for a three-speed 350 Chevy transmission that won’t downshift and has had linkage problems. I want to swap a Pontiac transmission, maybe a Powerglide 350 or 400, back in.

What do you think?

A: Any decent transmission shop should be able to fix a Powerglide, so you must have really trashed it. A Turbo 350, whether it was from a Pontiac or a Chevy, would be a worthwhile upgrade.

Dear Mike: I have a 1995 Ford Explorer and the radio just didn’t work one day. All the stations appear on the screen but no volume can be heard over the speakers. The antenna usually goes up when the radio is turned on and I thought that might be the problem. I pulled the antenna up and tried the radio again, but still no sound.

Can you please tell me what is wrong with my car?

A: If the problem was with the antenna, you’d hear a hiss from the speakers like there was no station on that channel. And you say there is no noise from any of the speakers, even though the screen shows the stations. That only leaves the radio itself. It will need to be removed and repaired or replaced.

Dear Mike: I own a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL with a 3.1-liter V-6 engine. I am in the market for new tires and I wanted to purchase a safer and better performing tire this time.

Unfortunately the 14-inch tires are becoming a thing of the past, or so I have been told by many local distributors that I spoke to today. In fact, none of the local tire dealers I had contacted had any 14-inch tires in stock. They also explained that they can no longer obtain this tire size through any of the name-brand manufacturers with the exception of Goodyear, and even then it would have to be special ordered.

Can I safely put 15-inch rims on my car so that I am able to purchase a readily available name-brand tire from a local tire distributor? Or do you have any information on an alternative brand tire that is readily available in 14-inch sizes, and is equal in safety and performance ratings to the big-name brands?

A: I’d get four recycled 15-inch rims and not only improve the range of tires available, but improve the ride and traction at the same time.