DUI (HEI) distributor problem and fix

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Jul 28, 2022 | 11:35 AM

jniolon

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old and in the way

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From: Lovely Hueytown Alabama

DUI (HEI) distributor problem and fix

`Recently had a problem with my DUI distributor (Performance Distributors)...while cruising the truck would stumble and then die... get it to the side of the road and try to crank it..it would hit but never catch till finally it would start but run rough and I couldn't get the rpms up to drive... Volt meter also dropped below 12 volts when this happened... Once I could get the rpms up to 1500 or so and the alternator kicked in it would clear up and run fine... Happened two or three times... Engine temp never got above 200 and when cranking starter would spin engine quickly so I ruled out the battery (later tests showed battery fine under load)

I called Performance Distributors and a very nice lady offered no help other than check my connections and make sure my feed wire was adequate size.. So I went to my local mechanic (YOUTUBE) and found this video which described my problem perfectly

Pulled the cap and found exactly what he described and repaired... Todays test proved it... Truck ran great and seems to perform a little better, although that could be imagination

thought it might help someone else

john

Jul 28, 2022 | 03:20 PM

tip49

Cargo Master

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 2,757

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From: Alberta Canada

Happy ending

Good job John. At first I thought it was the yellow paint but realized his truck is Orange not Yellow.

Get out and put some miles on.

Jul 28, 2022 | 03:55 PM

ALBUQ F-1

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 27,303

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From: NM

Hard to believe DUI hasn't incorporated the fix into production. For that matter it's hard to believe their engineers didn't realize the problem before shipping them out.

Jul 28, 2022 | 09:10 PM

jniolon

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old and in the way

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From: Lovely Hueytown Alabama

I agree completely, Ross... if it's on Youtube it must be a common problem. I sent an email to DUI folks linking the video...maybe they will pay attention

j

Jul 29, 2022 | 11:08 AM

bjmayberry2

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2012

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From: Wentzville, MO

Thanks for doing the leg work John. I'm sure this will be helpful to many on here.

Jul 30, 2022 | 08:05 AM

Steve Bennett

More Turbo

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 534

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From: Foxworth, Ms.

Very interesting John. I wonder if DUI changed their process of manufacturing or I am just lucky. My DUI has been in my truck for about 8 years and 15,000 miles 351 W engine. Maybe because my DUI is Ford Blue?? LOL! Good Luck and Happy cruising, Steve

Jul 30, 2022 | 08:35 AM

jniolon

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old and in the way

Joined: Jul 1997

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From: Lovely Hueytown Alabama

Hey Steve...good to hear from you... don't know about their process changing... I saw several videos showing the powder coating on the frame of the coil... It's really a design flaw and it should have been caught by now. I talked to 'someone' at Performance Distributors and she didn't seem to be the tech person as she had to go ask someone... their only solution was to check connections, grounds and wire size.. She never said "Check OUR grounds". I expected better tech support on a 400 buck distributor too. I followed Davis way back in the 70's when I was building another truck and he was addressing the Ford electronic ignition and recommending certain grommet colors over others...I talked to him personally several times and he knew his stuff... Still got one of his books around here somewhere...

You going to CTC this year ?? We aren't going...Even with gas prices down a little it's still an expensive trip for us. I used to get rooms comped at the casinos but since Covid stopped all our travels I don't get the offers any longer and everything is was more than it used to be. Plus the crowds and traffic have only gotten worse... Even the back roads are a parking lot nowadays. I sure miss it in the old days.

j