How to Replace the Distributor in a Mercury Villager

The Mercury Villager entered the minivan competition in 1993 and ceased production with the 2002 model year. The Villager engines contained distributors in the 3.0L engines from 1993 to 1998 and in the 3.3L engines from 1999 to 2002. With a few simple tools, you can replace the distributor.

Instructions

1

Track down the distributor by following the spark plug cables to it on the engine block. Locate the battery on the right front side of the engine compartment, as you face it, and unhook the negative cable from it.

2

Take off the spark plug wires carefully on 3.3L engines, but leave them attached to the distributor cap in 3.0L engines. Loosen screws holding the distributor cap and take it off.

3

Unhook the ground connector from the distributor's housing on 3.0L engines. On the 3.3L engines, pull the connector for the ignition coil harness out of the bracket. On both engines, unplug the distributor harness electrical connector.

4

Use a long-handled ratchet (breaker bar) to turn the crankshaft bolt in the pulley near the bottom of the engine; turn it so the No. 1 piston is at the Top Dead Center (TDC) mark on the engine. This is necessary for installation of parts later.

5

Make marks to indicate the alignment of the rotor to the distributor housing and the distributor housing to the engine block. When you put the parts back together, the marks will help you align parts so the engine will work properly.

6

Take out the distributor hold-down bolt with a wrench and lift the distributor out of the engine block.

7

Slide your new Villager distributor into position, ensuring you line up the parts with the marks you made earlier. The distributor part number for a 1993-1998 Villager 3.0L engine is 84251E from Parts Train. Parts numbers differ by manufacturer. Know the year, model and engine size when ordering.

8

Replace the distributor hold-down bolt. Reconnect parts in the reverse order of Steps 1 through 3.