82 MY not sparking (first post)

thecamel · Post by **thecamel** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:10 am

Hi all

My old sportswagon came to a sudden halt the other night without any warning really. Engine cut out silently without any knocks or splutters. I've spent a bit of time with it, replaced the ignition coil and coil lead, but there's still no spark to the distributor and I'm not sure where to look next. It has a hitachi electric distributor which I've also overhauled as well. Any ideas much appreciated.

Cheers

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:23 am

My 82 MY still has points so I am not familar with the electronic version.
This may be a silly question but does yours still have a resistor on the coil (big white thing on top of the coil) or are these not required on the electronic distributor.
If you have one check it is not broken.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun May 08, 2011 2:09 pm

Check your fusable links next to the battery

thecamel · Post by **thecamel** » Sun May 08, 2011 9:14 pm

Cheers. There's no resistor on this one and I've checked the links to the battery a few times. Going to replace the module in the distributor and hopefully that will get it going.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon May 09, 2011 12:31 am

ACA do one for about $100 retail fits all MY and L Series dizzies except the turbo variants

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon May 09, 2011 3:07 pm

Do you have a test light? I'd be checking power is at the coil when the ignition is on.

thecamel · Post by **thecamel** » Mon May 09, 2011 5:56 pm

Yeah I've got power to the coil tested with a lamp and I've ordered a Tridon module which looks the goods for $105. Struggling to pull the distributor out now. I've make my markings and removed the two lock down bolts but it's not budging. Any tips? Is there anything else I need to do to get the thing out?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon May 09, 2011 7:24 pm

no need !! Pull the cap off, pull the rotor button off, pull the plug that should be found in the top of the shaft, use pick / scribe. No 2 Philips screwdriver should be right to undo the screw below. Need two smallish flat blade screwdrivers to lever the stator thingy off the shaft careful of small roll pin inside against shaft. Screwdriver undo securing scrws for modul and watch the brass spacers underneath that screws go through if they have them on EA81 dizzy.Oh yeah disconnect the wires carefully, give a squeeze to the female terminals to ensure a tight fit on install

littlewhiteute · Post by **littlewhiteute** » Tue May 10, 2011 6:07 am

thecamel wrote:Yeah I've got power to the coil tested with a lamp and I've ordered a Tridon module which looks the goods for $105. Struggling to pull the distributor out now. I've make my markings and removed the two lock down bolts but it's not budging. Any tips? Is there anything else I need to do to get the thing out?

You can do the module in car, but if you want to pull the dizzy out, you need to rotate it first to free the o-ring in the block and/or the dizzy housing is stuck.

You'll never pull a dizzy straight out without rotating a little first.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:41 pm

yeah... +1 for what Gazza said. I usually twist/rotate whilst pulling upwards but make sure you have the engine/rotor button set to TDC #1 before you try though

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:19 pm

Shhh....otherwise we'll have to a remote fit of the dizzy too

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:31 pm

littlewhiteute wrote:You'll never pull a dizzy straight out without rotating a little first.

I did

thecamel · Post by **thecamel** » Mon May 16, 2011 8:57 am

Thanks everyone for your advice. The new module went in yesterday and she turned over nicely to live another day!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon May 16, 2011 11:58 am

Thanks for the postive update. WOOHOO !