I'm trying to get the old distributor cap off, but the three phillips head screws that hold it in place are badly corroded and don't move at all. I don't really want to risk stripping the heads, they may never come off. I've hit the screws with a shot of WD40 about four times in the last 2 days and have tapped gently with a hammer on the end of my screw driver to try and loosen them up, but no go. Any suggestions?

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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

If you break the heads it's a major pain to remoove properly BTDT. The screw is in the same kind of situation as the ones that are holding the rear brake disc or drum on many cars. The remedy is often the use of an impact screwdriver. It's an screwdriver that you make turn by hitting it with a hammer. WD-40 isn't good enough, go to Canadian tire and get some Liquid wrench (yellow container) to free rusted bolts, it really works well but can't do miracles if it's your case. If you want to give a try at the screwdriver CT has them too, just practice on other screws before so you can figure out how it works properly.

Mihai

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1988 420sel
1973 porsche 914 2.0

Same thing happened to me this past Spring. Soaked the 3 screws with Liquid Wrench, managed to get 2 of the 3 to loosen up and come off, but the third wouldn't budge. So I drove to the dealership and asked if they could help. They got it loose. When I got home and finally removed the cap, I found that the plastic "ear" that houses the 3rd screw hole had cracked and was just hanging loose. I don't think the dealer did it -- I'll bet the screw was on so tight, it cracked the housing.

Anyway, you might try getting your local dealer to help. If they bung it up, at least the car's in the right spot to be repaired.


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Al Spalmacin
1989 560SEL
1989 190E 2.6