87 Ignition Module Wiring

[DnStClr]

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-
 

[VileZambonie]

Realistically it doesn't matter. Did the plastic clip disintegrate? Most replacement pick up coils aren't even color coded

[DnStClr]

A Plastic clip wasn't there. Thanks Vile.

[DnStClr]

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 ?

[VileZambonie]

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.

[DnStClr]

OK. I was hoping it wasn't fuel related.

[DnStClr]

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



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)

[choptop]

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.

[DnStClr]

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) But it's serviceable from the top. Sort of.

[VileZambonie]

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.

[VileZambonie]

I just looked at your pix. Don you broke the pole piece. Time for a new distributor.

[choptop]

Yay, Im not crazy. Sorry Don.

[DnStClr]

  Nuts. Well not all is lost. Maybe I can upgrade to a better distributor.

[choptop]

Nuts. Well not all is lost. Maybe I can upgrade to a better distributor.

Now you're thinking.

[DnStClr]

Being self-taught can be rough on a guy at any age