This slang term refers to the mechanical distributor assembly that routes high-voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order. The name comes from a playful shortening of the word and references the spinning rotor button inside the cap. While largely obsolete on newer vehicles, the term remains heavily used by mechanics working on older and classic platforms.
Check the cap and rotor on the dizzy before you start tearing into the carburetor.
Also heard as
- dizzie
Related terms
Distributorless
Describes an ignition system that routes voltage directly to spark plugs without a mechanical rotor.
Ignition timing
The exact moment a spark plug fires relative to the position of the piston during the compression stroke.
ECU
The primary computer that manages engine performance, fuel delivery and emissions.