Where should I start troubleshooting? My car ( 89 iroc 5.7 ) died while at idle, I checked for spark at the plugs... no spark, no spark at the coil either. So I hooked up a new coil and it starts right up, take it for a drive and 10 minutes later the car died again, I checked for spark and nothing, I hooked up the old coil and the car started right up. So if it's not the coil is it possible the ecm is bad?

 

I would have the ignition module checked and check your pickup coil in the distributor .

 

bro mine died at idle and i changed the ignition coil and still no spark so could it be the pickup coil in the dist? because i thought it might have been the ignition switch? could it be that?

 

Do the ignition module and pick up coil regulate spark to the plugs or does one of them provide power to the coil?

 

The pickup is for identifying which cylinder is up for ignition and the control module reads the info from the pickup and the computer to tell the coil to fire and the spark gets transfered from the coil to the cap then the plug the rotor is pointing at .

 

So then my issue lies somewhere between the coil and the ecm and not between the coil and distributor?

 

I would say it is either a bad control module or a bad pickup coil or both .

 

Thank's 89-bird, I will pull the distributor and replace them.

 

Your welcome and that should fix your problem .

 

Did that fix your problem ?

 

I agree its sounds to me like the module, pick up or a loose connection from the coil to the module.

 

The time it takes you to swap out the coil, the module would have time to cool off, therefore working again when you restart it. Heat is what makes these things break down.

 

So far so good, I replaced both parts with ac delco brand, I didh't want to take a chance on cheaper parts as I don't feel like pulling the distributor in a couple months or so. I took a few short trips and nothing but smoothe running. I just need a few more trips around town before I will declare it fixed, It takes a little time to gain confidence when your car could leave you stranded at any time.

 

Glad to hear you got it and hope it stays fixed .