Ok heres the story: my car will crank but will not fire up. From reading articles on the board i think it may be because of the ignition module or distributor cap. I know where the distributor cap is but where is the ignition module and what does it do? Ive only owned the car for a few months now so i dont really know what im getting myself into.... thanks for your time.

 

Under the rotor in the distributor.

~M~

 

just 2 screws and a couple of wires connected..have the old one tested before you buy new....have you checked for spark by removing a plug and grounding it while turning the motor over?

 

i didnt check for a spark yet, but im sure the problem is in the ignition system....

 

Diagnose before you replace...

 

Is this what im looking for?

 

thats the one if you have 87 or later remote mounted coil.

 

i have a late model 86

 

I have an 86 with the coil in the cap....is the ignition module under the rotor? if so what am i looking for, a small chip?

 

It looks like this but should be black. And is under the rotor.

 

If you replace a module like Morley posted, make sure to apply some heat sink compound (looks like white grease) to the bottom.
Your new module may come with a small tube of it, but if it dosen't, Radio Shack sells it. My local parts store employees didn't know what it was.
Without the compound, the module will burn itself up.