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Honda Civic Si Distributor

Q. I have a 1993 Honda Civic Si with VTEC. There is a very loud squealing/ticking noise coming from the alternator area. At first I thought is was simply a loose belt but a mechanic took one look at it and said the bearing inside the distributor is failing.

The noise is rather loud at idle but cannot be heard while driving, possibly due to road noise. How soon can I wait before fixing a job like this? The part costs around $430 CDN, would you advise against purchasing a used distributor? Is Honda the only source or are aftermarket available, and if so how do they compare?

Thanks,
Neil M

A. Neil, I have no problem at all with using a used part. It's a great way to save quite a few bucks. The only thing you should be aware of is that with a used part you will only get, in most cases, a 30 warranty. You can get an aftermarket remanufactored distributor for less than a new one from Honda and get a decent warranty.

How long will the one you have last? Your guess is as good as mine. it could last forever or it could go tomorrow.

Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA

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