My car shut off after getting good and warm. the code it thru was 12, I know what code 12 usually means but I did some research and found found this old thread.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...code-12-a.html

To be honest its probly a newb question but I dont kno what a relucter is or what it does or where its located. I tried to look it up and found 20 diffrent things.

 

the relucter rotates with the distributor shaft to trigger the pickup coil
-it is under the rotor inside the distributor.

 

does it come with the cap or is it a seperate part?

 

sounds like your icm, ignition control module is bad. It is located in the distributor. It would be advisable to pull the distributor and replace the pickup coil. If you don't have a timing light you will need one.

http://easyautodiagnostics.com/gm_ic...n_module_3.php

 

so replace the reluctor, ICM, and pickup coil? all located under the distributor?? is there a kit for this or all seperate parts?

 

you can buy the part separately or even buy a remanufactured distributor. You can go to rockauto.com and see the parts and view part numbers bye different manufactures. The magnetic pole rarely fail but I have seen hair line cracks in them and you would want to get a remanufactured distributor at that point. the poles are about 90.

 

Thanks tuned, I just got a referbed distributor. $125 with a $25 core from advanced.. supposedly OEM application. I havent been able to pass smog, been having wierd "jerking" issues and it only gives me code 12 when the SES light comes on after the car does some "Christine" stuff and shuts off after being warmed up. also a wierd 10-15* hotter than normal thing after being well drivin. I believe this is my problem and has been messing with my timing.

 

what might be the best way to diagnose would be to buy a spark tester and when the car dies check for spark. If you buy the icm $25-50 and pickup coil for $10 to 12 might be a better way to go just want to help guide you in the right direction. The icm comes with some white paste /grease that goes under it to help with heat dissipation. The code 12 is for no No Distributor pulses back to the ecm it could be a terminal issue with the 4 wire that plug into the icm at the distributor but if its heat related I would suspect the icm being bad.