How It's Made

• A distributor has a rotating arm, aptly named a "rotor," that sits inside the distributor cap on top of the distributor shaft.
  
  

How It Works

• The camshaft on the vehicle turns the rotor. As it turns, it makes contact with high voltage cables from the coil and output contacts, which send a spark to the "spark" plugs, which act as a bridge to transfer electrical current through the motor.
  
  

Importance

• The distributor is a vital part of an engine's internal combustion system. In order for an engine to perform effectively, gas vapors must be ignited so as not to bog down the engine and cause it to sputter or stall. The distributor acts as a "match" of sorts to get the combustion going.
  
  

Troubleshooting

• A faulty distributor or distributor part can make a Nissan Altima run very rough or not at all. The engine may spit and sputter, due to the buildup of vapors in the combustion chambers. Alternately, the car may shake or have a rough idle. Sometimes, it may not start at all. Having a qualified mechanic check the vehicle's ignition system can determine if the problem lies within the distributor or its components.