Im having a no start issue. There is basically no reference signal, no tach output, or spark coil firings while cranking. This was an intermittent problem but now the car wont start at all. It ran fine but sometimes the module wouldnt fire teh coil or send any ref. pulses to the ecm while cranking. I replaced the module but it still persists. I pulled the dist. and found the p/u coil, reluctor ring, trigger wheel, etc. all to be in good working order. The p/u coil had the same resistance as a replacement I bought. I also have power at the dist. as well as the coil while KOEO. Havnt checked while cranking but the car ran great, just wouldnt start on occasion. If it helps any, I also had the issue of spark scatter at low rpms. Couldnt find any mechanical cause for this as everything was tight and in good condition.

Im thinking the possibility is maybe the magnet that sits under the ring is slowly demagnetizing and causing a low output signal while cranking. Could this be it? If so, are replacements available? I cant really see any other cause for the no spark. Got plenty of power from the batt., the module and coil appear to be good, but still nothing.

 

You should be able to feel a "cogging" feeling from the magnet at the points where the "star" lines up with the stationary teeth. while turning the dist shaft. If you can feel it, it's enough.

The car should run (terrible maybe, but it should run) even disconnected from the ECM altogether. That is, a broken wire or other probolem of that sort can't cause a no-start; it could cause the lack of pulses to the ECM, but not a no-start. Just a run-terrible. No-start and no ECM pulses means the dist isn't producing them.

Gotta be the pickup, the reluctor or other magnetic part, or the module.

 

Thats the conclusion I came to as well. The question is, what part in the dist. is it.

I put in a new p/u coil in it anyway since I have it out. I can feel a slight cogging action when I turn it. The dist. itself was a remanufactured peice that came with my car. I origionally set it up with a new A/C delco module and p/u coil for yucks. All other parts are whatever came with it. Visually, everything appears to be in good physical condition. I havnt tried it with the new p/u coil but from what ive seen, the old one was still in working order and there where no intermittent opens or shorts when I moved it around.

 

The problem was just all the crap built up on the clamp and the dist. base blocking the path to ground. Pulled the dist. and hooked a jumper wire up to a ground strap and turned it by hand and voil&aacute. Injectors, fuel pump, and coil came to life.

Thorough cleaning and all is good again, for now.