Now, that is an idea. I'm about to go to a salvage yard to check out a few Camaros and Firebirds. A used distributor is $20.00. I'm just going to get some wire connectors today but as a last resort, that might be a good way to check things.


Lawrenceville, GA

There are 2 tbi 5.0s! and both have distributors. I got the necessary wire connectors so I can make test leads.


Lawrenceville, GA

I would be wary of junkyard distributors. That may have been the last straw that gave the donor car a free ride to the pick and pull. Does Autozone, etc. test distributors for customers? If you get a bad junkyard part your chances of going down the wrong road are multiplied.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Very good question. On my way out for food, I stopped by Advance Auto. They can test the module! That will make it real easy. My repair book goes over testing the coil. I have the leads to do that, now. So, that's what I'll be working on on Monday. With any luck, it'll be running on Monday.


Lawrenceville, GA

I did some checking today and found nothing wrong.

It did start this morning. So I'm thinking it might have something to do with heat soak. I drove it to a friend's house and tested the theory. It started up immediately after turning it off. I tried it a couple times. But sure enough, I let it sit about 20 minutes and it wouldn't start. I checked the ignition coil, pickup coil, and took the module to Advance for testing. And of course, all 3 checked out ok. Fortunately, just as I had pulled into my driveway, it died while running. So maybe it is for good this time and I can figure it out.


Lawrenceville, GA

It started this morning Intermittent stuff really drives me up the wall.


Lawrenceville, GA

Hey Charlie;;    Have you looked at the resisror wire to the switch???   Don't know if the more modern cars have these, but had customer's car that would do that to me???   Yeah those kinds can drive ya crazy!!!   Just food for thought--   Good Luck and many Thanks--  always enjoy your info-- thanks for sharing    God Bless

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

This doesn't have a resistor. It gets a full 12v.



I think I fixed it. Since everything checked out ok, I trusted my heat soak theory and went ahead and got a reman distributor. My pickup coil connector fell apart when I was testing it. That and the module comes with the whole distributor for about $10.00 more. That's my reasoning for getting a whole distributor. I think the module is the problem. It uses a thermal compound between it and the distributor body to transfer heat for cooling, much like a cpu in a computer. The distributor body is the heat sink. When I removed the module for testing, That grease had long been dried up. It didn't look like any was there. I have to say, the original one is still in great mechanical shape. I couldn't detect any side play and it turns very smooth. I may not return it for the core charge.

Anywho, I idled it in the driveway until it was up to temp. It didn't die. I shut it off, went inside for about 20 minutes, went back out, and started it! Now it's time for a test drive to the grocery store where it originally quit. Fingers crossed.


Lawrenceville, GA

Pick another grocery store.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Ha ha! That is a good one. Better than the old stand by for an annoying mystery noise from somewhere in the car, often not heard by the mechanic..."Turn up the radio."

57 Black Tbird 312/auto