On the way into work this morning, the tach just started acting funny, say I'd rev it to about 2000 but then the tach would bounce to 3k and back down. I also had some problems w/ it pulling at higher rpms (4000+), like it started to stumble, but yet it was smooth enough to idle nicely. I had to baby it all the way into work.
When I got here, I popped the hood and revved it in neutral, the tach didn't bounce at all. Now I'm thinking the wire at the coil or distrib got loose, but what would cause the engine to stumble at higher RPMs like that?

 

Is it an aftermarket tach or a factory tach? Definatly check the wire harness that goes to the coil. With the motor running, wiggle the harness wires going to the gray coil connector and the black coil connector (don't touch the coil-to-distributor-cap wire itself!), and see if the engine stumbles.

 

Mine did than when the coil was going bad. Get a new coil.

 

Factory tach, coil replaced when I still had my learner's permit (late 2001?)

If the coil is dying, maybe I'll go pick up an MSD and reroute it from the exhaust manifold...

 

Give those wires the wiggle test first... and if you do get another coil, you might want to do what I did; leave the factory coil in it's place. If you ever die on the side of the road b/c the aftermarket coil blows up, you can still limp home on the original.

 

Well I found out that the connector for the coil was so brittle it just cracked and it would not hold onto the coil... so I went to the dealer to order a new one... $27!! Screw that! I'm gonna splice in the MSD Blaster SS coil that TomP has. It should be about $40, right? (Picking it up at PAW locally)

I don't even wanna bother w/ the old coil, it looks worn anyway for 3 years of service. No reason to be dcking around w/ a coil that has a broken connector...

Tom, do you know how they made that MSD harness... wait let me do a search...

OK can't find it... anyone help?
Edit: Found it
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...D+blaster+wire

 

on topic but off idea...i had a tach that would bounce under load, and the car would hesitate at upper RPM's. I checked everything i could think of, and eventually replaced a good portion of the ignition componets, (including the coil) although the coil was probably due for a change anyway, however, the problem didn't go away, infact it slowly got worse.

End result, i replaced my pickup coil in the distributor, and the problem went away permentatly. But, i'm still glad i have a new coil on there anyway, along with the very extensive "tune-up" i gave the car.

I'd say, if you've noticed problems in the wiring, replace the wiring, and replace the coil w/ the aftermarket version of your choice. I went w/ a stock coil replacement, as i wasn't looking for performance increases, simply reliability. You'll most likely be happy w/ the aftermarket coil, and in a worst case scenario and this doesn't solve the problem, then move onto other things by getting back to us.

The only downfall i've heard on aftermarket coils is that they sometimes explode or melt.....i saw this trend on the boards a year or more ago on the boards, and was kinda suprised as people said they were now on their second and third coils.

good luck.

 

I should have my MSD Blaster SS coil by the end of the day today, just gotta fab up some brackets for it. I'm thinking of heading to Home Depot at lunch and picking up some L brackets. Where are the mounting holes on this thing anyway?

 

The wires that went to those connectors were COOKED... they had the MSD coil stumbling at 2000 RPM! And I didn't find out until I was on my way to work this morning! :nono:

About an hour and 1/2 later, I ended up stripping the wires past the melted point, and getting rid of that plastic disconnect on the tach wire (white), because it was so brittle it broke too. I'll post pics of my bracket when I get back home. I hate old wires

 

Here's a pic of the bracket I fabbed up.

She runs great in the upper RPMs now!