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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: DnStClr on February 24, 2009, 11:41:36 AM

Title: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on February 24, 2009, 11:41:36 AM
I kinda goofed- I was putting in a new ignition module in my 87 tbi distributor- a 15 minute job, right? Well company showed up; I lost track of which wire from the pickup coil goes to which module pin- and now I can't get a good wiring shot of it from my manuals.There's only 2 small wires- a green one and a yellow one. The two pins on the module are P and N. And of course,I can't resize a drawing from the manual, it keeps coming out so small that it's useless,so I hope that's enough info-
 ::)
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: VileZambonie on February 24, 2009, 09:22:08 PM
Realistically it doesn't matter. Did the plastic clip disintegrate? Most replacement pick up coils aren't even color coded
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on February 25, 2009, 12:28:41 AM
A Plastic clip wasn't there. Thanks Vile.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 02, 2009, 10:03:38 AM
Well I need to ressurrect this starting problem. The truck starts and runs for @20 seconds and shuts down.I have replaced the fuel pump relay and checked it's wiring. I stuck another throttle body on, I replaced the tps, I tried another computer, and replaced the ignition module.  It acts the same using either fuel tank.Can a faulty oil pressure switch be the culprit, since it is tied in to the fuel delivery system ?
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: VileZambonie on March 02, 2009, 11:29:41 AM
No. Once the engine is started the oil pressure switch is out of the picture until next start up. Are you losing spark? Check the pick up coil.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 02, 2009, 11:39:05 AM
OK. I was hoping it wasn't fuel related.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 06, 2009, 12:49:22 PM
Removed the distributor cap again and couldn't remove the pickup coil. after some 'skunk pee' (Blazin words) and a puller, it came off in pieces. Distributor shaft is pretty rusty. Also, the replacement coil sure looks different than the original when they're next to each other. .Once I took off the rotor and saw the pick up coil, I didn't bother with a spark check. It looks like I'll probably need to do that. lol
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/57LIgnitionModule002-1.jpg)

(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/57LIgnitionModule005.jpg)
A plate is still left at the bottom and it has a roll pin in it. I assume this plate is the bottom part of the pickup coil. Does the plate come off with the bearing race? ( I hope so since I broke it)
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/57LIgnitionModule.jpg)

Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: choptop on March 06, 2009, 01:10:43 PM
Ok, somebody straighten me out here. I thought the pickup coil had to be replace from the bottom by removing the distributor, the cam gear, and then go from there. Either way, I think it would have been easier to pull the distributor first.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 06, 2009, 01:56:24 PM
On the tbi distributor the pickup coil sits on the shaft right below the rotor. Modular type. Two wires come out of it to feed a signal to the ignition coil sitting right beside it under the distrib cap. That signal is sent to the ecm along with a signal from the knock sensor to determine how the ecm wants to set the timing. (That's  my take on it anyhow) :D But it's serviceable from the top. Sort of.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: VileZambonie on March 06, 2009, 03:42:08 PM
No you need to remove the distributor and slide out the pole piece. Knock the gear roll pin out. Note the dot faces toward the slot for the rotor.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: VileZambonie on March 06, 2009, 03:42:55 PM
I just looked at your pix. Don you broke the pole piece. Time for a new distributor.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: choptop on March 06, 2009, 04:30:51 PM
Yay, Im not crazy. Sorry Don.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 06, 2009, 09:16:53 PM
 :D Nuts. Well not all is lost. Maybe I can upgrade to a better distributor.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: choptop on March 06, 2009, 09:20:10 PM
:D Nuts. Well not all is lost. Maybe I can upgrade to a better distributor.
Now you're thinking.
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 07, 2009, 07:57:28 AM
Being self-taught can be rough on a guy at any age :D
Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: VileZambonie on March 12, 2009, 12:40:39 PM
Don FYI, You have an HEI Pick up coil there too which is the wrong pick up coil for your distributor. I took some pix of a pick up coil I replaced today:

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/007.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/008.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/009.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/010.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/011.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/012.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/013.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/014.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/015.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/016.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/017.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/018.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/019.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/020.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/021.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/022.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/023.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/024.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/025.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/026.jpg)


Title: Re: 87 Ignition Module Wiring
Post by: DnStClr on March 12, 2009, 05:40:30 PM
Thanks for the pics! Send a couple of those young guys down to Tn!  :D
I ordered a new distributor, coil and plug wires from Summit. They were s'posed to come in today. I had some other stuff going on and couldn't get back to O'reillys to exchange the pick up coil. Their computer shows the HEI as a replacement for an 87 tbi.