Please help me with our problem. We have been going through IMs like nobody's business. Some background on the car:

• 5.7L bored .060" over
• Twin 58mm TB
• SLP 1-3/4" headers into 3" collector
• High-Flow cat
• SLP 3" cat-back

Anybody see why we would be blowing them up so much? We have replaced the coil, and cap & rotor to see if that would remedy the problem but to no avail. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The best advice is to use gm parts and use dielectric grease under it to transfer the heat better.I know what you mean I bought an accell module for mine 2 weeks later i'm walking up the off ramp to call a tow truck.GM all the way for me now.

 

Yeah, i'm starting to wonder about Accel products.

 

i agree with rhomanski on using A/C Delco parts.

dielectric grease under the module is better than nothing. without it even the best made module will die quickly. but there is something much better than dielectric grease for heat dissipation, its called thermal grease or thermal compound.
as far as i know thermal grease is never clear. with thermal grease, white, silver or gold are the only colors that i have seen, but it may come in other colors.
i have never seen a Delco or Motorcraft module come with anything other than white thermal grease.
thermal grease does cost more than dielectric grease, which is probably why most aftermarket modules come with dielectric.

 

I have tube of white silicone paste I bought from Jacob's Electronics several years ago.But I don't know if they still carry it since Jacobs became part of Mr Gasket.You can purchase the thermal paste at most eletronics supply store since it's used between the CPU's and heatsinks.

Edit:Has anyone tried the Dyna-Module from Performance Distributors( http://www.performancedistributors.com )?They are best known as Davis Unified Ignitions and they have an excellent reputation.

 

Had this same problem with the Accel ICM. I spoke to the Accel tech line and they indicated that their "stuff" did not play with all the MSD products I have on the car. Threw it in the trash, bought a GM ICM and never have had any problems since. From what I've read, the auto manufacturers have a patent on the circuitry of these units, so if you buy Accel, Wells, Sorenson or whatever, it will be a little different that the OEM equipment. Was a damn shame too, I could tell a big difference above 4200rpm with the Accel until it died

 

what are symptons of a bad ignition module?

 

Missing, bad idle, and when it totally goes, death to the motor. Wont start again until it get a new ICM

 

When my accell went out the car just died and would not start.stranding me on the interstate.When one of my GM went out it just idled bad and occasionally rev up at idle to keep from dying.It would idle very unsteady.Sometimes it would rev to 1000 rpm's and then try to die and then rev up to 1000 then drop to 400 and cycle up again.

 

Would someone please explain, what the differences are in a stock GM module, and a after market module???I just put a new (rebuilt) distributor in the car, and have whatever module O'Reillys brand come with....Would it be worth it to put a After market module in...Accel cap, and rotor, stock coil....i noticed someone on this thread said they could tell a difference at higher RPM's......Thanks for the info guys, Tom

 

I don't know what the difference is between stock and aftermarket.All i can say is the gm module has lasted on mine for years and accell lasted two weeks and that's on bone stock ignition.

 

It was me! I could tell a noticable difference at higher rpm's, but only for two months, then the Accel junk died and so did my beloved GTA. The way it was explained to me, by a very trusted source, is that the OEM's, such as GM and Ford, have some proprietary circuitry that the aftermarket guys cannot duplicate due to patent laws. Its a shame, I liked the extra revs. But generally, I have found that if you can buy it "off th shelf" from Advance or AutoZone, its not that good. You gotta order the good stuff.

 

Hey badbandit,
thanks for the reply, but what I really meant was what does the aftermarket module do that a stock one does not???? Just curious how it causes more horsepower.....

 

As I understand it the oem will saturate at higher rpm's say 4000 or more and won't put out a clean signal.The aftermarket units will.If they would last i'd use them but they don't.