Distributor squealing.. what should I replace it with?

[90Pioneer]

I have a 1996 4.0 XJ with only 69,000 on it. The other night my XJ started making a squeeling noise for about 30 seconds to a minute when you start the engine cold. The noise only happens when cold. This morning I traced the noise to the distributor... you can feel it vibrate.

I have a new cap and rotor that are about 3 months old. Should I replace these a second time with the new distributor?

Isn't 69k a bit premature for something like a distributor to fail?

I went to NAPA and tool a look at their remanufactured dist. After taking one look at that sorry POS there was no way I would put that into my vehicle. There was an incredible amount of wear marks on it...

So I've decided to bite it in the ass and purchase a new one.

What brand should I go with? OEM? Or are there any good quality performance ones out there? I want something that is going to drop right in without any machining or having anything else modified/replaced for it to fit.

Are there any other parts I should replace while I'm in there?

 

[ChiXJeff]

Sounds like the bushings are shot on the distributor shaft. 69k sounds low for failure to me, mine went at over 200k.

My replacement came with a new cap & rotor.

 

[Wayne Sihler]

Factory new cost me $180 but I get a discount.It does come with new cap&rotor .Mine went about 180,000,wifes went about 160,000.
Wayne

 

[90Pioneer]

So why is mine going out 100k too early?

So I should just stick with OEM?

 

[dizzymac]

Does sound real early for it to fail.....are sure its the dist......mine squeals if theres an elec. load when I start or when I hit a puddle to fast......fan belt slipping on alternator pulley

 

[JoBo]

My 96 needed a new one when I got it at 140k. I was going to replace the busings myself but found the wear was in the shaft. Autozone had one for $54 plus core and it came with the cam position sensor thing. Years ago they had oil caps but now I'm telling my age!

JoBo

 

[Yucca-Man]

Does sound real early for it to fail.....are sure its the dist......mine squeals if theres an elec. load when I start or when I hit a puddle to fast......fan belt slipping on alternator pulley

Agreed - from the description it sounded much like the problems I had with a worn (and loose) serpentine belt.

 

[gptherezonlyone]

270k on my 97. No distributor problem yet..... Yet! Go OEM it's harder on the wallet in the short run only........ Especially when it comes to MOPAR ignition stuff.................

 

[bzdel2441]

270k on a 97 is that correct?