One night my car took about 6 cranks to start, normally takes 2-3,
started went to work, the next day the car won't start. Later I found out that I had no spart. Since my car is a 90, and it still had the original coil, old dist, cap and rotor, I replaced all these. I marked my dist to make sure I had the dist/rotor set up the same way as before disassembly. Installed all new items, the car ran for about 3-5 minutes then it died. I figured I just need to set up the timing more accurately and it will be fine. I hooked up a timing light, disconnected the tan and black wire, set timing to 6 deg btdc. Then I hooked up the tan n black wire. I tried starting the engine but, it will start rev to about 2300 back down to around1200 then die. The only way the engine will run is if I have the tan n black wire disconnected. Could I have burnt up the new ign module that came with the new dist? BTY, I am getting a code 42.
Thanx in advance,
Rudy

 

Update:
I put the original ignition module back in and the car ran for about 3-5 minutes with the tan n black wire hooked up. Then it died and it would only run with the tan n black wire disconnected. When I would connect the tan n black wire back up the engine would start,rev to 2300 then back to around 1200 then die????? Any ideas

 

Update
Took the "new" ignition module to autozone to have them check it. They checked it and said it was fine. When I explained my situation, they told me that the reason the car was dying after the tan wire got hooked up again was because the gears were offset on the distributor. I took the distributor back out and moved it over what seemed a tooth or two, then when I hook the tan wire the car will actually idle and rev properly, but, as soon as I put the car in gear, it dies as if I had just turned the key off.

 

Update:
A week later and still a no go. I started all over again, set #1 cylinder to tdc, put my rotor to #1 spark plug, then tried the 6 deg btdc like the label on the hood says, still dies after I hook up the tan n black. Used a timing light of course. If I disconnect the tan n black wire and set my timing to about 26-28 degrees btdc, then hook up the tan n black again,the car will run for about 2-3 minutes then die. That is the only way the car will run with the tan n black connected. BTW, the timing mark is almost dead on when my #1 cylinder is tdc. Any ideas

 

Hello Red,

Sounds like you are being given the run-around there. Here is a trouble shootin chart that you can use to help with your problem. When you disconnect the tan/black wire you are by-passing the ECM, it will also set a code 42 when that wire is disconnected.

 

page 2.

If you have trouble reading this, post back and I will re-do it.

 

Tanx trickster,
I knew at some point you would show up, I 've seen some of the mighty good advice you have given in this forum. I've looked at that trouble shooting chart you sent, I saw it posted somewhere else when I did a search. I am going to order a scanner, so far the leading candidate seems to be the ez scan 5000. I was going to get the 6000 but I could not see the value in options in the 300$ prize difference. I am also going to order the book you get the charts from that way I can go all the way across all the charts as needed. I will post again after I get this car fixed or something else happens, I need to get this car fixed before I go back to the middle east for the summer, second summer in a row they send me, such is life in the military, Proud to be military though...
Tanx again....

 

Good luck with it. BTW, what's your AFSC? Mine was 23999

 

2a071a:
Avionics Tech, repair the boxes/computers (radar, communication, weapsons targeting, navigation) that get pulled from the aircraft, I only work on f15s...
What's a 23999 and how long were you in the af ? It will be 22 years for me come 3 June...

 

It is a 9-level aircraft maintenance technician (fighters) and I had 24 in before it got too political and I got out.

 

"too poitical"
aint that the truth, staying in as long as I can, I love the job and the troops, I know I only have a few years left and I hate the Idea that some day I will not be in the AF.