engine stopped while on highway? Distributor? Options

[homebuilder]

I was hoping for some advice... I was driving down the highway when all of a sudden the cars power stopped. I pulled to the side. Waited for about 20 minutes intermittently trying to start it while waiting for AAA. Then after about 20 minutes it started.

Before this happened I just filled the tank with gas and a month ago I had a mechanic replace the timing belt.

I brought it to a local shop thinking it may be bad gas or fuel pump. They said an engine code popped up saying something about an ignition part in the distributor and it was cheaper to replace the entire distributor.

Does this sound right?

The replacement part is apparently 150 plus 150 to replace for 300.

[jordisonjr]

What was the CEL Code?
If it was a distributor, you can simply buy a used one that works, and change it yourself.
I think I got one one here for like 30 bucks plus shipping, simply marked the position of mine, took it off, replaced the o-ring and put the new one on in the same spot, and it worked out fine.

With a bad distributor, my car drove like crap, and had very speradic revs, and the whole car would jerk forward and back, as if someone was learning to drive standard, but it wasn't just when shifting. However it did still drive.

[homebuilder]

How hard is it to replace? Can you give me instructions? Bolts, wires etc?

I was a little afraid of the timing issue since I do not have a timing light tool.

[mkernz22]

You don't need a timing light tool at all. Being that it is a used one, it should have the markings from where the bolts use to sit. If its a 96+, there's no need to worry since it's non-adjustable. You just unplug the 2 wiring clips going to it, unplug the spark plug wires, and unbolt it.

[jordisonjr]

Yepp exactly what he said.
I was really worried about doing mine as well, but I really didn't want to pay someone to do it and everyone was telling me how easy it was.
All I did was marked two distinct places that both dizzys had. (I believe they were to grooves in the plastic)
I just painted a line in the grove on the plastic of the dizzy, and then extended it onto the motor, then when I took the dizzy off I put the new one on and lined up the grooves with the paint lines on the motor and it worked out.

I think it was 2 or 3 bolts holding it on and two wire clips plugged into it.

While you're at it, you may as well go ahead and get a cap and rotor for the dizzy if you're buying a used one, just to be safe.