Ignition module testing
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 670
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From: Western, PA
Ignition module testing
Is there a way to test these things to tell if they are good?I think its whats causing the trouble but would like to know for shure before spending the money for a new one.Thanks
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
In the Chiltons manual there is a resistance/continuity check that can be performed with it removed. As was said however, if it's heat causing the unit to fail it may still check OK. Sorry, it's not a lot to go on.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
You can check its output with it in-system using a multimeter. If you go to Autozone's website, they have some decent step-by-step Duraspark troubleshooting guides under "Vehicle Repair Guides" that you can access by searcing for your vehicle.
There is no effective way to test it out of the truck with a standard multimeter; you will only see reflected impedances from non-linear devices in the circuit and they don't really say anything about the integrity of the device.
A while back my '77 LTD would randomly shut off while driving. It'd coast to the side of the road and by the time the car rolled to a stop, it would start up again with no problem. This happened once a day or so. It did turn out to be the ignition module. But problems like that could be anywhere - I imagine that if your ignition switch was misaligned just enough and you went over a bump, that could turn your truck off. I got lucky!
There is no effective way to test it out of the truck with a standard multimeter; you will only see reflected impedances from non-linear devices in the circuit and they don't really say anything about the integrity of the device.
A while back my '77 LTD would randomly shut off while driving. It'd coast to the side of the road and by the time the car rolled to a stop, it would start up again with no problem. This happened once a day or so. It did turn out to be the ignition module. But problems like that could be anywhere - I imagine that if your ignition switch was misaligned just enough and you went over a bump, that could turn your truck off. I got lucky!
