Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72GMC-Burb · 08-11-2010, 12:31 PM

My burb with an HEI gave out on me Sunday - Module tested bad - so I put a new one in - started, ran for 30 seconds - stalled out - no spark....well, took the coil out - put the meter to it - tests fine...put it back in - starts, runs out fine - one day later - the run for 30 seconds thing happens - stalls - nothing...no spark - towed home...frustrating~ The coil is 1 year old - what else am i missing? Is the harness between the module and coil hook up a bad thing??

Scott Johnson · 08-11-2010, 01:14 PM

I had gremlins similar to that with my 71. I replaced all the guts in the dist. and still had same problems. Finnaly just bought a entire new dist. and that solved my problem.

dwcsr · 08-11-2010, 02:52 PM

There should be some heat sink grease under the module so it transfers heat to the dist housing. What you decsribe sounds like the module is overheating and failing and once it gets back down to a reasonable temp it works again.

Burb · 08-11-2010, 03:26 PM

Had same type of problem a couple of years ago, and mine would cut out while I was driving and hwy speed and backfire then run for a while ... all of this was going on as I was making a treak out in the hill country ... ended up rebuilding it on a curb in a NAPA parking space, getting there only 2 mins before they closed, was lucky.

After a complete rebuild come to find out it was one of the coil pickup wires, something I would have never have found it without a total disassembly of the dissy.

just a thought

now I run all MSD

bullington · 08-11-2010, 05:03 PM

I had a similar issue, but it was the ground. Just something to check.

Big Block · 08-18-2010, 08:00 PM

I had a ground clip that was missing in the cap. It would run fine for a week and it would backfire and stop running all together. The coil would be fried or the pickup. I would replace them and it would run fine for a week or two and it would backfire and die. I looked at another dist. and found out I was missing the ground clip that grounded the coil. I put in the clip and that took care of the problem. Hope you find the problem. If you have a spare dist. give it a try.

08-11-2010, 12:31 PM	#1
72GMC-Burb Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saginaw, MI Posts: 46	Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? My burb with an HEI gave out on me Sunday - Module tested bad - so I put a new one in - started, ran for 30 seconds - stalled out - no spark....well, took the coil out - put the meter to it - tests fine...put it back in - starts, runs out fine - one day later - the run for 30 seconds thing happens - stalls - nothing...no spark - towed home...frustrating~ The coil is 1 year old - what else am i missing? Is the harness between the module and coil hook up a bad thing??

08-11-2010, 01:14 PM	#2
Scott Johnson Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 281	Re: Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? I had gremlins similar to that with my 71. I replaced all the guts in the dist. and still had same problems. Finnaly just bought a entire new dist. and that solved my problem. __________________ 71 C10 Step Daily Driver 72 K10 Suburban Work in Progress www.louisianaclassictruckclub.com

08-11-2010, 02:52 PM	#3
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? There should be some heat sink grease under the module so it transfers heat to the dist housing. What you decsribe sounds like the module is overheating and failing and once it gets back down to a reasonable temp it works again.

08-11-2010, 03:26 PM	#4
Burb Coordinator of Synchronicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West of Houston, TX Posts: 437	Re: Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? Had same type of problem a couple of years ago, and mine would cut out while I was driving and hwy speed and backfire then run for a while ... all of this was going on as I was making a treak out in the hill country ... ended up rebuilding it on a curb in a NAPA parking space, getting there only 2 mins before they closed, was lucky. After a complete rebuild come to find out it was one of the coil pickup wires, something I would have never have found it without a total disassembly of the dissy. just a thought now I run all MSD __________________ Rick 1971 Suburban ... W.I.P. *Build Thread* Customization is ones personal touch-- not what other people think it should be

08-11-2010, 05:03 PM	#5
bullington All around good guy Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pendleton Oregon Posts: 131	Re: Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? I had a similar issue, but it was the ground. Just something to check.

08-18-2010, 08:00 PM	#6
Big Block Big Block Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, N.C. Posts: 1,649	Re: Help! Distributor problem or wiring?? I had a ground clip that was missing in the cap. It would run fine for a week and it would backfire and stop running all together. The coil would be fried or the pickup. I would replace them and it would run fine for a week or two and it would backfire and die. I looked at another dist. and found out I was missing the ground clip that grounded the coil. I put in the clip and that took care of the problem. Hope you find the problem. If you have a spare dist. give it a try. Last edited by Big Block; 08-22-2010 at 08:38 PM.



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