Thread: 351w electronic ignition question

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I have posted a thread like this in the shoptalkk forum, got good answers but produced no results. I have a duraspark form a 77 econoline. Engine hauled over and stuck in a T. this is what happens. It will start up beautifully in the morning. I will drive its and come home. 15 minutes later I will go to drive it again and NO SPARK. the ignition module is a Wells, my alternator is new, the coil was new a few years ago, Battery is new. After I shut off the motor and grab the coil, it is very hot. Is this normal or could it be overheating and then holding back a spark? The motor will start agian a few hours later. I tried a different module just to make sure and the symtoms persist. Any thoughts guys?
Jaggs

A coil will get pretty warm, not to say ya don't have a bad coil but it's not that common of a problem... Wells module ???
not a very good choice buttttt...
In your former post ya said it would start when ya released the key and in my experiance thats always been a module problem ... The only thing else that I think it could be is the pickup assembly in the distributer....they would act up after they got hot ... try running it and get her good and hot shut it off a see if you can duplicate the problem in your driveway.. if it won' start get your garden hose out and cool the base of the distributer down and see if that cures it (don't spray the cap & wires) If it starts after the cool down I'd replace the pickup assembly
NAPA shows $46.14 as a pricet

Hworrell~ I may have typed wrong in my last post. when the motor starts it will start right away like it should. when it starts acting up like it does then sometimes I will catch a weak spark when I let go of the key, the motor has never started when it does this though just a small rumble.

Could you clarify how I am supposed to spray down the Distributer for me? I don't know how comfortable I am spraying water on a hot motor. Have you done this before?

thanks much for your advice, it will only help..as you can see I am at the end of my very limited knowledge
Thnks
Jaggs

There will be no problem duplicating the problem in the driveway!

I would suggest the pickup assembly in the distributor too,when they go bad the motor will usually run all day untill its shut off and will have to be cool when it will fire again. If it was a module problem the motor will usually die when the module gets warm and acts like it wants to start when the key is just released and when you buy new components get good quality as I have had problems with the wells products in the past.

alright! Now it sounds like we are getting to the root of the problem. I won't ba able to work on the car for a few days but I will let you guys know.

What brand components do you guys suggest. My budget is relatively tight. Right now I am forking out the bucks to get the windshield which is not cheap at all
Thanks again

O.K. I found ya some specs for the pickup
disconnect distributer harness and measure resistance between the purple and the orange (pickup) wires at the distributer harness should be 400 to 1000 ohms (do this when it won't start)

do you have a ballist resistor in the ign wire.