Curses, I wanted to AirCare my GT today. Thought I'd go to the North Van location (from my home in east Van) so I could get the cat good and hot on the Upper Levels Highway. I also took the 180 thermostat out and put the 195 thermostat back in to get the engine itself hotter to hopefully lessen emissions.

Well, I got it hotter alright. I appear to have fried something as the car stalled on the highway and died. After it cooled off a bit, it started again, and I exited the highway at the Westview exit. I drove for a short bit and it died again. This time it wouldn't start, even after an hour of waiting. It'll crank over and I smell gas, but that's it.

I've had the car since March and it's never stalled and/or had trouble starting previous to this.

I had put in a Blaster coil and an Accel distrib cap/rotor last week. I'll be able to swap back the stock coil and old distrib cap/rotor if need be. I also have a new ignition module here. What I don't have is another pickup coil.

Here's hoping I'm able to get it going. I've heard of everyone else with a Fiero eventually having this happen. I guess it's my turn this time.

If it turns out it's the pickup coil (which I don't have and which also requires the distributor to be dismantled, is there someone in the club who could lend me a complete distributor just so I can drop it in and get my GT started and get it home?

I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable with my GT in my own driveway as opposed to where it is right now.  (Luckily I have another car, my '94 Elantra, to use to chase parts with.)

Capt Fiero wrote: I would get a spare dist shaft, rebuild it and swap the entire unit out as one piece module pickup coil and shaft.

Believe it or not, just yesterday I was in contact with someone in the Mall at Pennock's about buying a distributor they were selling. Yes, my intention all along has been to have a spare complete distributor available to drop in.

Best of intentions isn't going to do me much good at the present. 

Capt Fiero wrote: Usually when either the pickup coil or module fail, they will take the other along with it.

Is there any chance of harming a new ignition module if I connect it to a possibly fried pickup coil?

If I don't have to, I'd rather not take the distributor all apart (especially miles from home) to replace the pickup coil if it's just the module that's fried.

Dave, thanks for the kind offer.

What I'll do is first thing tomorrow morning I'll drive over to North Van in my other car with tools and the new ignition module I already have. I'll also have the stock coil with me to swap out with the MSD Blaster coil if need be. If the GT starts, then great, I'll drive it home and then take the bus and the Seabus and another bus  to retrieve my Elantra.

If the GT won't start (because of the pickup coil), then I'll probably take you up on your offer to borrow your 88's distributor just to get my GT home (assuming it's an ignition problem).

Dave, I'll take your phone number with me and I'll call from North Van if I need to head your way for a distributor. Thanks.

Dave, while I have your attention, I thought you might have a comment or two to post in http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/073109.html - This thread at Pennock's.

Well, I packed up my tools and headed off to North Van to see if I could get my GT running. On the way I stopped at my local auto parts supplier (VAP) and picked up a pickup coil for $16 plus tax. Seemed like cheap insurance if I needed the coil.

Anyway, I was glad to see my GT wasn't on blocks. It still had four wheels and didn't appear to be tampered with.

It turned out it was the ignition module which had failed. Popped in the new one I had and she started right up.

Didn't bother to go through AirCare. Too much excitement already in the last 24 hours.

Now to take a bus downtown, take the Seabus to the North Shore, and then another bus to retrieve my Elantra. Ain't cars fun!

I'm finally back.

Great way to eat up the day.

Thanks again Dave, for the offer of using one of your distributors. It turns out I didn't need it, but it was reassuring nevertheless that one was available if required. Much appreciated.

hangmans8 wrote: did you try to start it when you got there! before you changed the module?

Do you think I'm some newb?

Yes, I tried to start it before I did anything else. No go.

I then unplugged and replugged the two connectors (to the module) on the distributor several times. Made no difference.

But as soon as I put that new ignition module in.... Va-rooooom!

Thought I'd post a cell phone shot of where my GT spent the night.

I had just crossed those well used railroad tracks to the left of the shot when the ignition module packed it in for good.

Posted http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=949&PN=1&TPN=1 - Here how I hope to help prevent this from occuring again.