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,

 

U should have an HEI distributor. the coil inside the cap head, could be defective. They do go bad.
My '84 T/A, i time the old fashion way. Timing light clamp around cyl 1, distrib vacuum plugged at distrib, timing light light power hooded to battery terminal. My car had a QJ carb but do not know how things work with the TPI setup. What is the tan/blk wire?
Timing on my '84 is about 8 or 9 * advance. Chev engines like lots of timing
Hope u resolve your problem

 

Code 42 is for the memcal and/or ECM.

 

41/51 is ecm memcal or prom issue.

• Trouble Code 42 indicates that there may be a malfunction in the Electronic Spark Timing (EST) system. During cranking, the timing is controlled by the ignition module while the ECM monitors the engine speed. When the engine speed exceeds 400 RPM, the ECM sends a BYPASS signal to the ignition module which switches the timing to ECM control.

 

oops... you're right. That'll teach me to go from memory!

But the act of disconnecting that EST connector to set the timing will cause the code 42, which can then be cleared by removing battery power from the ECM. So it may not be indicative of an actual problem.

 

Iirc it’s a icm or issue with white wire from icm to ecm. But I could be wrong

 

What distributor was purchased? You wonder about the quality control of some of this overseas garbage these days... "New" doesn't necessarily mean "known good" anymore...