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Old 04-29-2011, 08:34 AM   #13
D13
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Memphis MI
Posts: 1,851
Re: 87 TBI - Intermittant "no start"

Do you want to diagnose it or fix it?
Fix - rebuild a distributor with a new GM module, GM pick up coil, Delco cap and wires. Check and clean the connector at the distributor. Replace the coil w/ new GM.

Diagnose - no start with added fuel means no spark (TBI uses distributor pulse signal to ECM to run fuel too). That means module (70%), pick up coil (15%), coil (10%), or distributor worn so that pick up isn't working correctly (which will lead to pick up coil failure) (5%).

For what it's worth my 1990, which had the same basic system, would eat a module and coil every Christmastime for 3 years straight, while it was cooler and damp out. The last time I replaced the Accel plug wires that I had put on at 125,000 miles, turns out 1 wire was bad, back feeding the module, which then was buring out the coil. No more issues for the next 3 years (sold the truck).

Part house modules are cheaper than Delco because they take the RF filtering out of the chip, much more fragile to stray voltage (like, a bad plug wire...). Learned that when I was a service guy for Oldsmopile. Pick up coil wires and distributor connection wires like to corrode and crack inside the connector. After my experiences with aftermarket plug wires I'm convinced nothing is better for a DD than a set of Delcos. Unless you can find 70-80's Packard NOS - the best made.
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1987 2 ton
1982 250/TH350 beater in progress
Dad's 1981 3/4 L6 3 on tree posi and no options, awaiting restoration or scrapping
Plus a mess o' tractors

Last edited by D13; 04-29-2011 at 08:35 AM.
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