IROC#1

What can cause coil failure? I have now gone thru 3 coils and am extremely frustrated! My iroc isn't even a daily driver! I seem to get stranded at least once every 2 months...what could be causing this?

IROC#1

A little more info....

Last year right after I bought the car I had this problem--it would just turnover. I replaced the rotor, cap, ignition module and finally the coil which started the car....It happened again in September--left me stranded (the car would just turnover). Ended up having to be towed. Just for kicks I put the old coil in the car and it fired! A month later the car wouldnt fire and I swapped coils but this time nothing....I bought another coil and the car fires up (scratching my head here)...

Yesterday the same thing happens--it just turns over. I ended up having the car towed again. This time though a new coil has done nothing--still wont start. Im guessing at this point my problem is related to something else entirely and replacing a part is temporily fixing the loose connection (??). Has anyone had this happen? Suggestions?
Im just sick of seeing my car on one of these....

UNCLE TOM

iTrader: (1)

i assume your sure it's a fuel problem & your sure it's ignition . coils do not fail that often . what does fail with intermintant cycles is the module in the dist. base . i say this as it happend to me . i also ended up getting towed . not a good thing far from home . check it out . good luck .

paulo57509

Is your coil in the cap or external?

silvereagle

one common issue I see alot is people not using dielectric lube between the ignition module and the distributor, any new module should come with a littile pack of dielectric its not enough buy a tube of the stuff and add about twice as much as comes with it with out it the module overheats and may not work till it cools or be permenantly damaged, secondly check the terminal tension where your pick up coil connects to the ignition module if its loose it may work intermitantly if it is loose use a pick or srcrewdriver to slightly collapse the spade on the pick up coil, third thing I would try is buying a factory ignition module, aftermarket is not always better I hope this helps

ps next time you break down and your car just turns over, pull a spark plug wire and ground it at the base your hood crank your motor if you have spark then its a fuel issue, not an ignition issue

IROC#1

Ive got the 5.7 TPI motor--the coil is external

IROC#1

I used a ton of the dielectric lube that came with the ignition module so I know that cant be it BUT the ignition module was one I purchased at shucks so its possible that its bad.
Ill check the tension on the pickup coil--thanks.

Yeah, I didnt check for spark when I was stranded because I just ASSUMED (wrong!!) that it was the coil again..Ive got to go back to square 1 and verify spark or fuel before I start throwing parts at it..

Thanks for the suggestions!

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Repairs just get expensive when you dont troubleshoot first

It wouldnt be the first bad IGN module from a parts store

Most likely you swapped a different coil on and the engine had cooled down enough for the module to work correctly. To test the theory, carry one of the old coils until it shuts off again. Swap the wiring over to the old coil (takes 30 seconds) and immediately fire it back up. If the problem is still there, then its not the coil

IROC#1

Replacing the coil cost me nothing--it has a lifetime warranty on it so Schucks just swapped it out.
So a hot coil can temporarily fail? Interesting.....In this case I had gone golfing so the car had sat for 3+ hours and was cold but that wasnt my problem anyway was it? (Since the new coil didnt fix my problem) LOL!
Assuming it is a bad ign module--is it a bad idea to buy these from Shucks? Am I better off buying from Chevrolet? I just dont want to continue to deal with poor quality parts if that is my issue.

JTNKTZ

iTrader: (10)

No offense but check the wire connections, plugs, breaks in wires etc. Check wires from the ignition module to coil. I had the same exact problem except I kept changing ignition modules. If I was a betting man.,,, I would check all the wires in that general area.

Turned out a wire would touch just right when I replaced something but vibrated out from the motor.

AC

iTrader: (3)

I had a stock 18yr old 43,000 mile IGN go bad, went to Autozone, bought an Acell IGN, brand new, lasted 14miles!!! I bought an ACDelco and it's lasted 2 seasons so far and about 4-5k miles.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

It is possible, but the test was for the IGN module. Electrical parts seem to be hit or miss wherever you go

IROC#1

Well, I hadnt touched the car all week and went out tonite to determine what my issue was and of course........she fires right up! Damnit! Now I feel like its a ticking timebomb for the next time it leaves me stranded. Ill check all the wires but everything is stock in there and in great condition,

NINÅ

Here’s how to end all the guessing.

Wire up a small 12 volt bulb (a side marker bulb works well).

Connect one lead to the coil primary, the other lead to ground.

Mount it in the cockpit so you can see it while driving.

It will be illuminated while driving.

The next time the engine stalls crank it and observe the bulb.

If it flashes while cranking the module is good.

Then all the guessing will be over.

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Happy Racing!

IROC#1

What wire is primary on the coil? There are 2 plugs--one black and one grey--both have 2 wires each going to them.

--I drove the IROC all weekend (went thru a full tank of gas) and didnt have 1 mishap--fired up everytime..I even drove it to work today (its been almost 60 degrees the past 6 days--T-tops off and sunshine! You cant beat that in February!)

NINÅ

Use one of the terminal A’s.

One gray and one black wire terminate there so you can use either.

The terminal A’s are nearest to the outside of the coil.

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Happy Racing!

iceee93

hey IROC,

When this happens, does the SES light come on?

IROC#1

No, the SES light wasnt coming on.

The problem ended up being my ignition module inside the distributor.

Gumby

1st plug wires would be the first thing to replace, doens't matter how old or miles, change em.

2nd would be a lose or flaky engine to body ground.

IROC#1

Man, I love my car but this signt is getting really old!!!

Took the car out yesterday for the first time in weeks...T-tops off, running great...stop at a cross walk to let a couple women cross and the car just dies. Turns over but wont fire! Battery went dead (embarrassing) and I ended up having to call a tow truck (4th time in 10 months and I barely drive this car!!)...Getting real frustrated!

IROC#1

The issue was another bad ignition module (Ive now had to replace 3-4 of these over the past year)...
Lucky me--went to start the car this morning and no spark again!

What can cause this issue? Has anyone had an issue with going thru ignition modules like I am? Anything I can do to permanently fix?

IROC#1

Could this maybe be my distributor? Its original to the car....

NINÅ