Ignition Rotor: Description and Operation

Distributor Rotor:

The rotor, located in the distributor, is secured to the distributor rotor shaft. The distributor, cap, and rotor are set so that when a spark is generated by the ignition coil, the rotor points to the appropriate terminal of the distributor cap and the spark energy is directed to the correct cylinder through the ignition wires.

The electrode in the rotor is not a metal conductor, VW uses a resistor rotor for static suppression and to help provide a higher energy spark to the spark plugs.