Ignition Troubleshooting

[Bullnose Gator]

It died on me on the highway and I had to have it towed home.  Then it came back to life for a bit and then died again on a test drive.  I was able to get it started again and limp it back home only a mile or two.  I replaced the ignition control module and it fired right up, first turn of the key.  I test drove it immediately with no problems.  

A few hours later I started it again and it had a very bad idle and then stalled.  I was able to start it again and it still had the bad idle, but ran without stalling.  I figured it had to be the ICM, since that's the only thing I changed, so I tried a 2nd ICM but got the same bad idle.  I came back a while later and wiggled all of the wires on the distributor cap and the ICM wire connections and it fired right up and ran good again.  I test drove it again with no problems.  

The next day the problem was back, but now it will just barely start and I have to give it a lot of gas to do so.  It will only turn over for a few seconds, has a brief knocking idle, and then stalls again.  I've tested the carburetor/fuel supply and that doesn't seem to be the problem.  I am going to replace the distributor cap and rotor next, but any thoughts on what it could be?

[Gary Lewis]

I'll guess it is the pickup in the distributor.  They have been known to fail and give weird symptoms, including failing when hot and starting again when cold.

But I think I'd try the cap and rotor first.  Easier and cheaper.  Then I'd do the pickup.

[grumpin]

X2 what Gary said. I had one of the wires on the pickup in the distributor break off.

I would also be suspect of that new ICM, if you don’t find anything else.

[Bullnose Gator]

New distributor cap and rotor didn't do the trick, and I'm already on the 2nd ICM, so moving on to the pickup coil.  Let me know if there are any tips/tricks to replacing that.  Thanks.

[Gary Lewis]

I think that pickup is a likely culprit.  I've seen the insulation fall off the leads to it such that using the vacuum advance would short it and kill the engine.  And I've seen them do strange things when they get hot.

Tricks?  Just be careful and don't break the reluctor that is on the shaft.  Otherwise it should be pretty easy.

[Bullnose Gator]

Do I need to pull the distributor or can I get to it from here?

[Gary Lewis]

No need to pull the dizzy.  It is the blue thing with the wires that come out the side via a grommet that slides up and out.

[Bullnose Gator]

Cool.  Not just the blue part, the bracket it's attached to as well, right?  This one looks like what I need:

https://www.autozone.com/ignition-tune-up-and-routine-maintenance/pick-up-coil/p/duralast-pick-up-coil-f107/118521_0_0

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, that's it.  Although I didn't check to make sure it is right for your dizzy as I assumed you had.

[Bullnose Gator]

According to autozone it fits my model truck, and it looks the same to me.  I'll give it a go, thanks.

[Gary Lewis]

[grumpin]

I’d like to give you a heads up on the aftermarket pickup coils.

Here’s what I did with mine.

Edit: removed link, some links have not been working for me lately. Search the forum for my post, 460 Non EEC Distributor.

[Gary Lewis]

Dane - The link you gave was a URL, probably copied from the browser.  What you need is the permalink.  I think this is the one you meant, right?  

[grumpin]

Gary Lewis wrote

Dane - The link you gave was a URL, probably copied from the browser.  What you need is the permalink.  I think this is the one you meant, right?

Yes sir, that’s it. I’ll have to figure out what I’m doing wrong with the links.

[Bullnose Gator]

Yikes.  That doesn't sound promising, and that was just earlier this year.  My next post might be how do I repair my original.

[Gary Lewis]

Click More/Permalink.

[grumpin]

The Motorcraft pickup is working great!

[grumpin]

Ok, I’m on an iPad. Do I copy the link then go to more and permalink?

Sorry for the hijack!

[Gary Lewis]

Go to More and then Permalink and copy that.  Don't copy the URL at the top of the browser page.  That usually just takes you back to the main page.

[grumpin]

Ok, thanks a bunch Gary!