Update on my Ignition Module failure!

[Gpaw44]

My 2 year old Accel Ign. mod failed after 2years and 2 months. I bought a new one and after about 3 miles my truck died and I had to have it pulled home. So back down to the O"Reilly Auto Parts I went to have them check the Ign. Mod. It showed to be bad and since I had a one year warranty so he grabbed a new one of the same brand off the self. I aske him if he would check to see if it was good. It also failed the test the test. Two of the same brand failed making it 3 failed Ign Modules.
Talking with my auto mechanic friend he suggested rather than piecing an old distributor with new parts why not buy a new one. So on Friday I order a new Excell Dist. from Summit and it came in on Sat and was in the truck Sunday afternoon. Drove it around for about 15 miutes before the truck died and to be pulled home again. Now the toal Ign, Mods. is five.
This morning I loaded the truck up and took to a person who makes a liveing diagnosing electrical problems in vehicles. He showed me that there was close to 13 voltes gong into the Dist. but a spark so dim it would not make the truck run. In other words the voltage was going in but not coming out! He told me this new Dist. was bad and that I should warranty it. I have another one coming in in two days.
We are not getting quality Ignition Modules!
Not wanting to convert to an LS swap but I may have to be able to drive my 86 GMC.

 

[Goldie Driver]

I had a USA made Borg Warner HEI module crap out in a month or so. The replacement AC Delco is still going so it's the only replacement I would recommend. Good luck!

 

[Ricko1966]

I only recommend genuine gm,delco gold or NAPA premium. To the best of my knowledge those are the only modules that hold true to the original design and vary dwell or vary dwell in the original fashion based on engine rpm. By using cheaper components they can make more profit,and or offer a cheaper part. But if the cheaper componentsbwon't match the O.E. spec for dwell,what else won't they match?

 

[77Dmax]

Put a points distributor in it. That will run forever. You'll need to adjust them once in awhile though.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Will an msd module work? I've only had one that would lose spark after sitting over night but if you tapped on the distributor it would fire up. Replaced the module it was fine ever since.

Only "bad" msd module I've had.

 

[Gpaw44]

Thanks for the responces. I just check and on Amazon and a genuine AC Delco Distributor sells for 440.00 and is made in Taiwan. Where are you buying an AC Delco?

 

[77Dmax]

People think I'm nuts for this but a solid source for real GM parts is the boneyard. I have pulled modules from parts cars and gotten a long life from them.

 

[Ricko1966]

Thanks for the responces. I just check and on Amazon and a genuine AC Delco Distributor sells for 440.00 and is made in Taiwan. Where are you buying an AC Delco?

I don't buy distributors I use genuine GM,AC Delco gold,or NAPA premium modules. I reuse/ rebuild,find new old stock, as much as possible,new parts as a general rule in my opinion,are not as good as the parts the cars were made with new.And a lot of new parts not suitable to use at all. Also as insurance I'd add a ground from the engine block to the battery. Or block to body or frame,but only if you are positive the body and frame have a good ground to the battery. Bad grounds kill modules,failing coils kill modules,too much sparkplug gap kills modules. Also check voltage at the cap when you get it running,make sure you are getting battery voltage not a big volt drop or a big spike from a bad voltage regulator or bad wire.

 

[Geoduck]

Joe is right. Used OEM modules are now our best choice. Chinese are unreliable.
Alex, your 86 305 may have a knock sensor on the passenger side lower block. A green wire that goes to the HEI. If so be sure to get the correct module for your 305. I have the OEM part number someplace if you need it.

 

[Vbb199]

Yea, 2-3 years ago i put an accel distributor in my suburban. The one that comes with the module as well. A few members here probably remembers i was having issues with the truck not wanting to accelerate beyond 3000 or something. Changed a mess of stuff, only to end up changing the accel ignition module out.
Put the original 1989 module in and the issues stopped.

 

[geolee]

I had the same problems until i put a msd distributor in my 84 and been good for years, Probably just jinxed myself lol

 

[TotalyHucked]

As others have said, I'd find a good original distributor and buy a Genuine GM Ignition Module. When I first bought my truck, the ESC was giving us fits and killed 2 parts store modules. Swapped to a non-ESC HEI distributor that my dad had laying around, paid extra for the genuine GM module at the parts store and it was fine for the next 8-10k miles before I yanked it and LS swapped it

 

[1lejohn]

I would get rid of the modules and run an MSD box. The kit costs about what the GM dizzy costs. No more module's, better spark power, and a built-in rev limiter. You can even connect an adjustable timing module and change the timing from the cab. I learned my lesson years ago with my 79 Big 10. One thing to check is that the wiring isn't pulling out of the connecter when you plug it into the dizzy. The one on my 79 did that. The one connecter would back out and not make contact.

 

[1lejohn]

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[WFO]

I've been driving vehicles with HEIs in them since the 70s, and never had a module go bad until a few years ago.
Pulled the cap and saw that it was an Accel module that tested bad.
Put a new AC Delco one in, and haven't had any more trouble since.