Had Gojira in the shop getting checked out (and a bunch of stuff done), and gave him a tune-up last Saturday. Plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and coil. Did the plugs one at a time, then the wires, then cap and coil. Rotor was stuck big time, but it was in good enough condition to let it wait for later. The "O'Partshouse" gave me the wrong rotor, anyway (it was for a distributor shaft much larger). Anyhoo, I cranked it up (air cleaner off) and *pow* huge backfire through the throttle body. Sounded like a .38. I let the smoke clear & after a minute or two, tried it again...fired right up, and ran smooth. (Note: He's a cold-natured beast. On a cold engine, I crank for like three seconds, let off, then crank it again. Fires up within three more seconds. I had previously replaced the fuel filter & lines, too.) Replaced the air cleaner & took it for a road test. Smooth, good acceleration (for being 4800 pounds), no misses, no sputters, no hesitation, no more backfires. Sweet! The backfire had me concerned, though. I did the wires one at a time, measuring old against new, so I wouldn't cross them. And it's running normally. One time thing maybe? And now to the rotor. It's probably the original (since he had less than 88K miles, but being 28 years old). What would be the best way of getting that thing unstuck?

 

If it is running good, and you are not getting the backfire again, chalk it up to a fluke, and don't worry about it.

Getting the rotor off can be fun in the trucks.... but, in your van, you should have nice, clear, easy access to it. I have resorted to using 'nut busters' on them before...... cracks the rotor at the base, and then it pulls right off. Sometimes, if you wiggle it back and forth, you can get it to break loose, and then it will also pull right off. Of course, other times.... they hang on for dear life, and only let go when the opportunity to make you smack your hand against something sharp, and metallic, presents itself.....

 

If nothing else, I can take a Dremel & cut-off wheel to it. The contacts looked clean enough, though. I can let it ride for now. He's running well enough for me to start putting curtains up.

 

The rotor should be changed around 30K miles, so it's likely been changed twice already.

 

It looked to be in good shape so you're probably right. And being a city-owned vehicle, it *should* have been well-maintained.