Does this sound like a dead Ign. Module?

Im running an SBC with a Pertronix Flamethrower HEI small cap distributor on my Hot Rod
Havent gotten many miles on it since getting it on the road, when this problem came up.

It will start up..run a bit and shut down as if you turned off the key.
sometimes it will run longer than other times, sometimes it a matter of moments and it shuts off. sometimes it just cranks and wont fire right off.

Coil is new and has internal resitor, Pertronix age unknown.

whats the best way to test for a dead or soon to be completely dead Module?

thanks all

 

try another coil
if you used pertronics coil they have a high failiar rate
wayne

 

Sorry i should have said no pertronix coil its an accel ..but i guess it could be junk too

I also thought it could be a hot coil problem, if a Module goes bad are they bad , done..or could they play games like this too?

 

put points in it, see how it works?

 

I might try that if i find it is in fact dead

I found a write up just now on how to test it with my volt meter and a lighted test probe

 

You might see if it's getting power just after it dies, use a volt meter or test light. Intermittents are fun to figure out....

 

I just found a write up on how to test like your saying as you were typing..
I'll give that a try

it is intermittent..big time

sometimes it shuts off while its running but so quickly it fires back up before the engine stops rotating..than other times it stops dead

My tac bounces big time when that happens ..it goes to 0..than back up to where ever the throttle is set..like if im at 2200RPM..it quits drops to 0 like a rock..than sometimes back up to throttle setting

 

Use a GM module. I've had bad luck with aftermarket modules.

My experience with them is, they either work or die. No in between, just dead or alive.

 

Could be a loose wire or bad ignition switch.

 

Yeah ,,could be..this **** is a drag to find sometimes

guess i got my work cut out for me this week

 

Von, does the primary resistance of the coil{ w/built n ballast} match the module of the distributor?

 

according to them it does

so, yes


I did ask before buying it

and it did fine for quite a while until just recently

 

When mine die, they have never came back

 

HotRodDon on here works for Pertronix. I'm certain he can walk you through any issues. He knows his stuff...

 

Yeah , Im hearing that from others too..Im thinking its the coil..I call it the old Hot coil problem..and its acting like that.

although like squirrel said it could be these **** ignition switches too..

gotta do some electrical trouble shooting this week

Joy, my favorite

 

thanks Ed
I shot him a PM early this morning, before the thread..he might chime in

 

Really sounds more like a wiring issue since its firing right back up before it shuts down completely. Pertronics is either dead or alive,no inbetween. Like suggested check connections and ignition switch wiring pigtail.

 

GMC Bubba set mine up and when I thought the module died because I left the ignition switch on while the car was not running it cooked the coil.
Even though it was my fault he offered to replace the module if it was bad, but the module was fine.
He's seems like a really good guy.
He could probably walk you through some of the troubleshooting.

 

Easy to eliminate the wiring and ignition switch from the system. Can you easily run a jumper wire from the battery + to the Pos side of the coil and test drive? How about your grounds , have you checked them? Pertronix modules either work or they don't. TR

 

i might have done the same thing while building this car

 

Great Idea TR..I'll give that a try, thats how i was bench running the engine so , It should be a good way to rule out the switch and the harness.

I have grounds up the wazoo

sounds like the general idea is , the Mods. either are good or bad , no in between, so tonight i will run a jumper and see what gives

 

the module works or dont work like i said try another coil . it will take 2 minutes to switch it out

 

yep, I gotcha
Im going to try rule out the Ign switch..than the coil

My coil isnt a 2 min job on this car..its up inside my dash..
I hate looking at coils on firewalls..im funny that way

probably because i hid it, that will be the culprit

 

Good deal Von, just remember some freek occurance like the throttle sticking, and you have to yank off the wire, shutting the key off wont help

 

Good point ,Boss

 

My Dad and I have both had modules go out on new Mallory uni-lites.
His acted just like what you are describing. It would run until it got hot, then die. Usually it ran about a couple of minutes after the engine had cooled down. Mine on the otherhand just flat died. I tried a coil, and checked the switch, and a few other things. Finally, a buddy had a points distributor that we KNEW was good. Popped that in, and BINGO the car ran just fine. Pisser about both these module failers were that the distributors both had less than a couple hundred miles on them when they failed, so we didn't START there, because "they're new, and couldn't possibly be the problem!"

 

Thanks man
Im planning on testing mine before i go too far..I figure its the easiest (in my set up) to trouble shoot..if it comes up good , than I'll dig deeper

 

Coil...had the same issue with a brand new coil...worked fine until it got warmed up a bit, changed the coil and trouble free since.

 

I guess my first step would be to see if you lost spark. you did not list if you ever checked that. could be a fuel problem???

 

I aint tested nothin yet..just surfin for clues, happened just the other day