I did a search in this forum but couldn't find an answer. My 95 EX developed a small oil leak. I asked the dealer to check, thinking it was the valve cover gasket. It turns out it's the seal in the distributer housing. They said the housing has to be replaced and want nearly $700 for parts and labor. I said no.

I checked around and you can buy the inner seal for ~$12. Is this a viable solution? How tough a job is it? What would be a reasonable charge to have the work done by and independent garage?

BTW, I asked the dealer service rep about just replacing the seal. He said Honda doesn't recommend it, therefore they choose not to offer it, they'll only replace the entire housing.

 

That's retarded. If you are talking about the Distributor O-ring, which can leak from time to time if old, that is not even a $5 dollar part and takes about 15 minutes to install.

Go over to www.hondapartsdeals.com, look up your car and all that jazz, choose "engine", then "distributor" from the drop down boxes.

Are you looking at part number 6 (30110-PA1-732)?

That site shows it for $1.38. However, I bet you can get an O-ring that size (26.4X3.1) from a parts store and be fine too. I would recommend the proper Honda O-ring though. I can imagine your local Honda dealership selling for about $5.

 

Leakage of the shaft seal will cause oil to get inside the distributor. In that case, officially the whole unit is to be replaced. Rebuilt distributors are less than $200 and if you are paying someone to install it I would suggest that in order to have a guarantee on it. Replacing the shaft seal is probably something that independent mechanics don't want to mess with, so it's strictly into the DIY realm then.

If it's leaking only around the base directly to the outside, that is the o-ring seal which is very easy to replace.

 

Here's a DIY for replacing the shaft seal inside the distributor:

http://sites.google.com/site/hondali...ributorbearing

 

Thanks for the replies. The dealer told me there is oil in the distrubutor, so it's the shaft seal. A quick internet search found a rebuilt for ~$150. This will take care of the shaft seal, right? I don't need to replace the distributor bracket?