What is a Distributor Module

gairo1 · Postby **gairo1** » 10 Jul 2008 03:57

Hello All,

My Grinnall has a hit and miss issue of every now and then cutting out! This can be while idling or driving along.

It's not fuel related, so had a guy look at it and he has recommended changing the "distributor module" or get a "distributor kit".

I'm not very techinical but I gather that the car has electronic ignition? Maybe wrong there. Car is a 3.5ltr V8.

welshsteve · Postby **welshsteve** » 10 Jul 2008 06:43

Depending on the distributor used the module is either bolted to the side of the dizzy or if you follow the wires off it there will be a metal plate bolted to the bulkhead somewhere.

If it's got tits or tyres then it's gonna cost ya!

Craig C · Postby **Craig C** » 10 Jul 2008 06:50

My v8 has a chevy distributor so it may not be the same, but in my experience an ignition module either works or it doesn't. It is solid state. Intermittent connection via dodgy wiring, now that definitely might cause occasional cutting out...

It is impossible to check if an ignition module is "good" without specialised equipment, so you buy a new one and if that solves things all well and good. If it doesn't you now have a spare...

Craig
Tr7V8 which is on its 4th ignition module...

paul w · Postby **paul w** » 10 Jul 2008 09:10

Gairo 1, like Craig says,modules dont fail intermitantly,they either
work or they dont.Power modules have to be earthed,so check that its
ground securely,then check wires to distributor and coil for loose/
dodgey connections.I have Lumenition electronic ignition fitted to my
auto - never had a problem with it now for over 4 years,20,000 miles.

See ya. Paul

[img][IMG]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/paulwesterman/Rearaxle009.jpg[/img]http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Belts_files/Paul_Masthead.jpg[/img]

trphil · Postby **trphil** » 10 Jul 2008 10:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by paul w

Gairo 1, like Craig says,modules dont fail intermitantly,they either
work or they dont.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Except when my electronic ignition failed earlier in the year when my car's behaviour was exactly as described by the O.P. [xx(]

Steve @ SandS · Postby **Steve @ SandS** » 10 Jul 2008 11:50

Is it the Lucas Opus system ?? these have a tendency to behave this way when they are on their way out.

Steve @ S&S Preparations

gairo1 · Postby **gairo1** » 10 Jul 2008 13:45

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure what system it is, all I can say is it is a Grinnall. And to cap things off, I'm not in Australia at the moment!

I am in the UK at the end of the month and thought I'd get the part when there, but it's looking a little more complexed from the answers.
All I can say is that it is intermitant, so it could be a dodgy earth or poor wiring. When the car arrived at Brisbane docks, Oz Quarantine insisted on steam cleaning the engine bay AGAIN, thus this may have caused the issue as in the UK it was fine.

It's perfectly drivable, just cuts out now and again, but starts up again immediatly

Cheers, Jerry

Steve @ SandS · Postby **Steve @ SandS** » 10 Jul 2008 14:04

Grinnall used whatever system came with the donor engine at the time, post I pic and I should be able to tell you what it is.

Steve @ S&S Preparations

gairo1 · Postby **gairo1** » 10 Jul 2008 15:07

Steve, I will but it'll be after my trip to the UK. Is it worth me getting one of those Lumination things and if so how much and where?

Cheers, Jerry

Bill · Postby **Bill** » 10 Jul 2008 18:57

My 1980 was doing that also, it had a Delco distributor in it and the pick up coil inside the cap was getting hot, causing it to fail. I installed a spare Lucas electronic distributor and the problem went away...go figure.
Delco does not make replacement parts for that distributor (at least NOT the pick up coil!)

Bill
1980 Persian Aqua DHC

trrobbie · Postby **trrobbie** » 10 Jul 2008 20:29

Hey All, I had(many years ago) an `84 mini blazer with elec. ing.[8D] The modual would fire the coil nicely until it got hot.[B)] Then all hell would break lose.[8] Replaced the modual and all was well.[;)] Truck would poor[:(!] and sometimes stall[:(!][xx(][:(] untill things cooled a bit in the dizzy.[;)] Just a few of my thoughts.[:D] Robbie in warm wyoming[}:)]

gairo1 · Postby **gairo1** » 11 Jul 2008 05:03

I have to admit, that's what I thought it may be, getting too hot. The conditions in Queensland being very different from Suffolk!

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 11 Jul 2008 06:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gairo1

I have to admit, that's what I thought it may be, getting too hot. The conditions in Queensland being very different from Suffolk!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's not so much a case of different ambient temperature it's that when a faulty electronc part get hot/warm it can start to fail. We used to isolate a dodgy component on Olivetti Electronc Typewriters by spraying different components on the motherboard with cold spray. When we hit the right one it would start working again until the component heated up again.

Sometimes a electronic componet will just fail, sometimes it will act up at operating temperature.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

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What is a Distributor Module

What is a Distributor Module

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