Hi everyone, I'm new to this site but old to third gens. Everything I've got is in my sig. Except my problem, the car surges and the tach jumps. It used to only due it when it got warm, so I replaced the coil. Thought it fixed it til the car warmed up. So I went to replace the pickup coil but my reluctor fell apart and my shaft was warped so I replaced the whole dist. Timed it, now it's even worse! Could it be the ESC on the firewal? I'll replace the wires and cap tomorrow anyway even though they are fairly new just to eliminate them. I know this seems to be a fairly common problem overall but has anyone had this specific problem (circumstances)? Any help is appreciated since I'm afoot with my wife in my truck.

 

Well today I replaced the cap and rotor as well as the coil wire itself. Still no good, I'll replace the wires tommorrow when O'reillys gets some in. Could it be the ESC or the knock sensor?
Thanks for the replies.

 

Mike,

Welcome Aboard!

Your suspicion could be correct, but instead of spending the cash on a new ESC unit on a guess, do a little more diagnosis. Disconnect the EST bypass connector to disable the ESC and see if the problem continues. If so, the ESC is not the problem. If disconnecting the ESC improves the performance, you may have a failed ESC or damaged detonation (knock) sensor. You can temprarily install a 3.9K ohm resistor in place of the DET sensor to test that theory. If "fooling" the ESC with the resistor solves your problem, you might need a new sensor. If not, you've saved yourself some headaches and cash, and have eliminated a couple more possibilities.

 

Thanks Vader I really appreciate someone trying to help . By disconecting the EST do you mean just unplug the thing or is there another connection to it or fuse? How about just unplugging the knock sensor? Other than throwing a code would it be a beneficial test? Thanks again.

 

just unplug the est. impretty sure if you disconect the knock sensor, and you get a code, your car will go into limp home mode.... but im not positive

 

Thanks fattie I'll go unplug it and see what happens.
Later.

 

also inspect it to make sure its clean. even thought its a weather pack/tight connection.. crap can get in there casueing a bad connection.

 

Are you using your ign module from the old dist in your new dist?