The distributor cap of an ignition system is one possible cause of many for misfires. Other possible sources to investigate are the distributors cap and gears. The flow chart of diagnosing misfires also include the coil, capacitor (if applicable), ignition wires and the spark plugs.
Wet/damp/faulty ignition wires, contaminated fuel (water), worn out spark plugs.
Yes
A slight judder.
Timing is out your distributor could be one eighty out try turning it one eighty.
The cap doesn't actually crack (unless someone broke it) but bad ignition wires can cause to much resistance for the spark to travel to the spark plug so the spark jumps inside the distributor cap causing carbon tracks that resemble cracks.
POSSIBILITIES: Faulty spark plug - faulty ignition wire - distributor rotor needs replacing - distributor needs replacing. The most common cause of multiple misfires on the B20 / P75 engine used in the 1999 CRV is valve recession. this is a well documented problem on these engines. Repair usually requires replacement of the head.
Misfires, hard start, no start, more often when wet.
Sounds like in your attempts to change the distributor, you altered the timing. that would explain misfires and car idleing to stop.
If a Dodge Dakota misfires under acceleration, the problem is either the spark plugs, the coil, or the distributor. It could also be a problem with the fuel pump, fuel filter, or the carburetor.
Plugs, wires, coil, distributor, injector, internal engine....
All symptoms of bad timing; stalling on sudden wide open throttle, running rich or lean, misfires, especially continuous misfires on the same cylinder, or just simply not running.
incorrect engine timing so that it misfires
Mechanical issue, ammunition issue.
No, but bad spark plugs or plug wires sure can.
You have bad spark plugs and or cap and rotor
Cross-threaded spark plug.
If it is loose it can jump time which will cause poor performance. If it is loose it needs to be repaired immediately.