How to Change the Distributor Cap on a 1995 Altima

Damage to the distributor cap on your Nissan Altima happens most often when the engine operates at higher temperatures than the cap can handle. The excessive heat of the engine can cause the plastic cap to warp or even crack. The spark plugs depend on the current sent from the distributor cap. When it's defective, your Altima's engine may not start or run correctly. You can change the distributor cap on your 1995 Altima at home.

• 1

  Turn off the Altima's engine and remove the key from its lock cylinder. Raise the hood and locate your battery on the lower left -- passenger's side -- of the engine compartment. Loosen the bolt securing the negative cable to the battery with a socket wrench. Lift the cable away from its post and position it along the side of the battery away from all other metal.

• 2

  Locate the distributor cap on your '95 Altima. While standing directly in front of your engine, facing the windshield, look down at the top of the engine. You should see a large silver rectangle. This is your Altima's valve cover. On the far right of the cover, you will see four thick, black wires attached to another engine component. This is your Altima's distributor cap.

• 3

  Note the position of the distributor cap and each of the wires connected to it. Upon close inspection of the cap, you will see that just below each wire connected to it is a small number. The numbers correspond to the spark plugs within the engine. Each of the spark plug wires should have a small number that corresponds with the cap number printed on them as well. If your spark plug wires don't have numbering on them use correction fluid to number each wire according to the numbers on the distributor cap.

• 4

  Pull each of the spark plug wires off their connection one at a time on the old cap and connect them to the new distributor cap. Your new distributor cap will have the same numbering sequence on it as the old cap. Once you have connected all of the wires, set the cap down on top of the valve cover.

• 5

  Remove the top mounting screw at the base of the old distributor cap with a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the second mounting screw at the bottom of the old distributor cap with the Phillips screwdriver. Pull the cap to the right 4 inches so it clears the rotor and then lift it out of the engine compartment.

• 6

  Place the new distributor cap over the rotor back into mounting position. Thread the lower and upper screws by hand. Tighten both screws with the Phillips screwdriver until hand-tight only. Overtightening may crack the new distributor cap.

• 7

  Connect the negative cable back to its post on the battery. Tighten the cable's securing bolt with the socket wrench until snug and close the hood on your 1995 Altima.