Ready to Kill this square
 

I drive my truck to a buddies to help him move after work (on a friday) and then the giant sack of crap won't start. It would turn over but wouldn't fire! I get another buddy to drive me home to get my tools and grab a distributor cap, rotor, and coil off of one of my parts trucks. I drive all the way back out to my truck (about 30 miles) with the tools, parts, lights etc (because it's dark now) only to replace everything 2 or three times, trying every, coil/cap/rotor combination that I had. Finally I have to call a tow truck and have this terd towed home for a mere $138.40. On the way home I stop and but a new coil, cap and rotor and replace those again when I get home.... and wouldn't you know it.... still no spark. It's now 2 in the morning and it's still not running. How can it be running fine one minute and not getting a spark the next?
Anyone have a suggestion, or should I blow this thing up?
Thanks for your help

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Did you replace the ignition module?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

I have had a fuseable link from the starter blow and had the same problem. take the module to the parts store and have it tested first. make sure they test it like 10 times in a row if it tests good because sometimes they heat up and break apart. did you check power to the coil?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

And while cranking ?

No mention of year/engine ?

Check the wires on the pick-up module, I've seen the wires break at the ignition module plug connector from the advance moving it back and forth....

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Very typical gm problem when all the sudden there is no spark

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

just had the same thing.
22.00 4 prong ignition module later, it fired right up!
**
usually if it just dies, or it will run and die- and start up a little later- the hei ignition module is the first place to look.
dont throw parts at a problem- you have to be forensic about it...
use a test light to see if power is going to the distributor with the ignition on- if it is- try the module. (i keep a spare one now in my glove box...)

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

what the heck is an ignition module? I guess I will find out. As far as I can see, all of the wiring looks good.
By the way the truck is a 1986 half ton, 2 wheel drive. It has no condenser because it is electric... as far as I know.
Thanks again everybody!

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Inside your distributor under the rotor button screwed to the base of the distributor.

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

The pick-up plugs onto the module S10Fan pictured ^^^^ That's the wires to check for breakage, Inside the insulation as well....

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Thanks guys, the pics help. I know exactly what you are talking about now. My ignition module has 3 prongs on the firewall side and 2 on the other. I'm guessing that I have to use the exact one. Of course the one I pulled from my parts truck has only 4 prongs total (like the one pictured above). I'm too scared to even try it. Off to the parts store I go.
Cheers everyone

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

yea yours has esc (electronic spark control) it should have a total of 6 prongs though. four on one side and two on the other. the 4-pin wont even plug in to your distributor.

MAKE SURE you put the stuff on the bottom of it, between the distributor and ign module, that comes in the box. i forgot the name but its like grease that transmits heat out of the ign module and into the dist. base. it will fry if you dont. i had the same problem you are having and thats what it was. good luck

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Once again I am ready to kill this thing. I replaced the ignition module (I bought 2 of them and tried them both) I replaced the module connector harness and capacitor. As mentioned before, I have already replaced the cap, the rotor, and the coil. What next? I checked the wires going to the coil and they it has power with the ignition, the light dims considerably when it is cranking, though it was difficult to see when in the truck. Unfortunately I don't have an ohmmeter to get any readings. I'm not sure what to do next, could it be the pick-up coil? And if so, can I replace it without taking the distributor out?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Now into it for $280 ($140 for parts and $140 for the tow) and it's still not sparking. Not to mention that it's 5:30 in the morning and I've been working and cursing at it all night. Time to go to bed and try again tomorrow!

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

is the rotor even turning (sounds kinda dumb) maybe the timing chain broke. doubt it usually they stretch and send timing out of whack. I would put it back together and get a jumper wire and run it from the battery to the coil and try to start it. did you make sure you put the button in the cap on correctly? maybe it is not making contact with the rotor. just trying to think of anything at this point. is it backfiring or anything?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Well, The pick-up coil tells the ignition coil when to spark. If it goes out there's nothing to tell the coil to spark.

Distributor must be pulled and the shaft removed to get the pick-up out.....

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Man, I've tried everything except for the pick up coil at this point or maybe a sledge hammer. I guess that is next. I did try running a direct wire to the coil from the battery. The rotor is spinning, I guess I'll go get a new pick up coil and give that a try. That's pretty much the last thing left.
Thanks again guys

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

I had an 82 buick regal with a 3.8 v6, It was running when parked, then sat for a couple years. I tried to start and had no spark, replaced everything, still no spark, turned out to be the pickup coil too.

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

I hope so, I'll let you guys know ASAP!

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Do you know anyone with a spare distributor laying around that you could swap it with?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

I have one here actually, I'll pull it and check it out.

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Have you replaced the coil button? It's on a small spring and I had them go out frequently creating the same problems you describe. If you replaced the cap and rotor, you probably replaced it as well, just making sure that you did replace it though.

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Does it have an ESC module?

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Alright, this square is back in my good books. It was the pick up coil after all! That darn little coil was the root of all the starting problems. Replaced it, threw the distributor in and she fired right up... and is running great once again.
Thanks for all of your help everyone!

Re: Ready to Kill this square
 

Yeah Nukes!
Right after I commented on this thread I started popping ignition modules... Made my own thread and still working on a fix!
Once they are running good, all is forgiven!