I wasn’t sure where I should post this so I am posting it ina couple different topics….. I have been having trouble with my ignitioncontrol module. I am aware that they are know to go out in our Third Gen’s butits getting a bit ridiculous. I have had to replace my ICM three times in thelast 5 month. They aren’t hard to replace and I keep an extra one in the car atall times, just a few screws I’ve had to replace it on the side of the road soits not a big deal just annoying.

So here is my question… is there something else that couldbe causing my ICM to go bad so often?? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Excessive heat can cause them to fail, have you overheated recently or have been running hot? You also want to make sure you're putting that grease on the new one when installing it.

 

yes I always put grease on the new once usually the grease that comes with it in the box. As far as my engine getting over heated I doo not know about that, when I'm driving at highway speeds my gauge reads just under half was and when idling at a traffic light or in traffic the gauge goes slightly above half way, but nothing alarming....

 

"You also want to make sure you're putting that grease on the new one when installing it."

^^^^^ What he said.

Go to Electronics parts store and get some good silicon heat sink compound for $5.99.

 

three times in the last 5 months!
That's excessive. I changed mine once in 27 years...and that was a "just because."

Check your grounds for one

 

what is the symptom when this module goes out? I was driving down the road about 40 mph and my 88 305 just died as I was driving. I came to a stop, put it in park and tried to restart it. nothing happened. I put it in neutral and tried to start it but nothing again. none of the dash lights came on while I was trying to start it. It would not even try to turn over. After moving the shifter to park and neutral several times it finally started. I don't think a bad starter or neutral safety switch would cause it to die while driving down the road. Any help would be great.

 

Are you using a parts store module or a Delco?
If it isn't Delco, that could very well be your problem.

 

That would be a textbook description of one going out. As it could be said tha the reason it started after a while was because the icm had cooled down enough to let it run. Either way, check your icm and your coil.

I replaced mine with a delco, (and it wasn't all that more expensive than a knock-off). Go with good parts.

 

There was another thread recently pointing out that Delco of today isn't the same Delco of 20+ years ago. A good aftermarket replacement/upgrade might be a better choice.

To the OP; Has anything else changed before your ICMs started dying? New coil? Wiring repairs?

 

Just to bump this thread - My ICM died again (for those of you keeping count that's the 3rd one in the past year). I THOUGHT I was buying good parts (Made in USA, from Napa). However, after doing more research my next one is going to be an AC Delco with the white heat sink grease that you purchase (not the clear stuff that comes with the part, although it's better than nothing it doesn't dissipate heat as well).


I have an advanced auto ICM in it at the moment (that's just what I had as a spare). But I don't plan to drive it much until I get the AC Delco in a week or two.


AC Delco may not be the AC Delco of 20 years ago, but they're still doing something slightly different than these knock-off aftermarket manufacturers.

 

Did you replace the coil? If it has some shorted windings, it may be stressing the ICM. It will still produce spark but not as hot and pull more current.

 

Before the last ICM popped I did replace the coil, with a nice MSD one.

 

NOT TRUE! I'm a computer tech and very familiar with the benefits of heat sink grease. I to put grease on my ICM's which keep going out. I contacted Wells after there best ICM ever failed after one year and the tech stated "the ICM is designed to work WITHOUT heat sink grease", I to was shocked.

 

Did that solve the problem, I haven't changed the coils in five years and the computer doesn't show any codes.

 

"Designed", maybe, however heat sink grease will help.

To anyone with a recurring ICM problem, the coil should be replaced.

 

I've got a ICM (HEI) question, this is not Camaro specific, but I've got a HEI issue, and there are folks on here smarter than I that may have some insight. I have a '82 Chevy 454 where the engine simply died while it was going down the highway. It has a weak spark (not enough to jump a HEI gap) , I've replaced the coil, I've put a trouble light on the Batt input (to the coil) to Tach and its blinking while the engine is cranking (telling me the module is functional) , there is 12+V on the Batt input to the coil with ignition on, this drops to ~8.9V while cranking. Given the engine quit while it was running (presumably with 12+V on the Batt coil input) I'm assuming the ~8.9V under cranking isn't the problem. The only other thing I can think of being suspect is possibly the pick up coil has gone bad? If someone sees something obvious here, I'd appreciate some feedback. Thanks!

 

Just saying I work in a car parts warehouse and we rebox white box (company brand ) parts into Napa, ac delco, moog etc don't be blinded by the boxes and names you are all really just getting the same parts and paying more for the name and or warranty....... js have a blessed day

 

Yes, it's known that different companies make the parts for different house brands, however, in general, those parts (whether the house brand or the name brand) tend to be of better quality than the no-name mystery from eBay or someplace similar.

 

Just a update on the happy ending with my situation 3yrs ago. I ended up putting a oscilloscope on the coil primary to see what the waveform looked like coming out of the ICM, it looked deceivingly correct. I took the ICM to Auto Zone and had them test it. It failed "energy". I ended up replacing the ICE , that fixed the problem. I scoped it again, and the waveform out of the bad module was ~25 milliseconds slower than the good module. I bought a AC Delco replacement (at least the part was branded as such) from Auto Zone, installed it with a liberal application of the conductive grease that came with it. I also bought a "el-cheapo" version of the same module to carry with me in case of future failure. So far all is well with the ignition.