Does this sound like a dead Ign. Module?

Same thing happend to me last week, first thing I changed was the module. It turned out to be my timing chain. And with the module it will either run or not, no kinda run.

 

My vote is to put the Pertronix unit in the trash where they belong and go with another electronic unit or better yet go back to points and then have fun driving for a long time.

 

That's a design feature of that particular ignition system.

 

Good way to get another $160 out of ya. $80 to replace the dead module, and $80 for the spare one you carry, and somehow never seem to need.....

 

That is what I have seen from electrionic modules and especially HEI modules. They either work and are good or they are dead and there isn't any in between on them.

 

Well seems you need to check the basics . Then once that is done I am sure these guy's can point you in the right direction. If not you are just grasping at straws. Hydro lock also comes to mind but with out knowing the basics ?????????

 

Its all good

Just some electrical ghost to chase down

your going a bit far for a hydro lock..its not that

no staw grasping here, I have the direction to head, just was asking if others have had modules play games like this..

I built this car so this isnt a new game for me

 

How long has the fuel been sitting in the tank? 10% ethanol can suck up plenty of moisture in just a few weeks. Just something else to tnink about.

 

aint fuel

its a full tank of new fuel

its electrical and The problem is well in hand

got it narrowed down to 2 items..been busy at work, no time to play til this weekend..it'll be back on the road in no time

 

I've always liked a stock GM HEI and used only premium parts in them. GM modules are fine, so are Standard Ignition's modules. I always kept a spare one in the glove box and the tools to change them out. Only needed to do it once on the road.

Bad ones get hot and break down. The car cools off and starts like magic. I've had them crap out while I was driving and in one case a no-start condition until the car sat for a few hours. I could shut it off, as long as it was started within 10 minutes, I was okay. Don't forget the thermal grease that goes under it.

Bob

 

Ok I see . I am new to the board so I guess I must not have a clue???? You said yourself you don't know if it lost spark or not? How do you come up with the problem is well at hand?

 

Dont be so hard on yourself

when i said i didnt know if it lost spark or not , was because at that point I had not done any trouble shooting
was just digging for suggestions at that point, mostly to see if other dudes have had a Mod. act this way or not., hence the title of the thread

and not my first rodeo for electrical problems so , thats how i come up with the problem is well at hand

it will be 1 of the 3 things i listed in my PM to you..so all is good no intention of coming across that you dont know anything, im sure thats not the case

are we ok?

 

I have had modules fail when hot, only to work when cooled off. Same with coils.
When it's dead, use a test light on the neg side of coil, should flash while cranking. If it flashes, module is good.

 

chased a similar problem in an OT gm vehicle years ago. everything seemed to lead to the module replaced it with a "standard" module, didn't fix it. Had a shop bench test both modules and they checked out fine. turned out wires to the modules had broken down inside the insulation (looked good) and were shorting out. Quick trip to a chevy parts counter and the fix was soon at hand. Stumped us for quite some time.

 

I had an hei problem where it would die occasionally...turns out when I plugged in the pickup wires onto the module, I didn't get the tang seated inside the terminal, it was between the terminal and the insulation. That was a bugger to find. I've also encounterd hei modules that would die and start working after cooling off a bit. And I've seen this on ford and mopar boxes too, those big ones they used in the 70s. Remember them?