1.3L EFI ignition module

[Mike McKown]

A question concerning the titled part.

Can an ignition module that is defective cause:

Occasional hard starting. excessive crank time.

Loss of power accompanied by spark knock. This happens from time/time. Just comes/goes at random.

If these symptoms cannot be caused by the ignition module is the likely cause the ECM?

The engine runs well most of the time. Just every once i awhile, it'll act up. The car is an automatic. Gets mid 30's mpg highway driving. Idles good. Never a detectable misfire.

[25Horseplay]

I had one that would just cut out all together and stall. Sometimes it had to sit for 10-15 min and it would restart other times it started right up. It was really random, sometimes it would do this -3 times a day and then it wouldn't happen for a month. Finally it just quit all together.

[Mike McKown]

I had one that would just cut out all together and stall. Sometimes it had to sit for 10-15 min and it would restart other times it started right up. It was really random, sometimes it would do this -3 times a day and then it wouldn't happen for a month. Finally it just quit all together.

How about my other symptoms?

[jglutz]

Yes to all of the symptons...but so will other things like bad grounds...or other bad coneections in the ignition circuit...or a bad pulse pick up in the distributor.

The ECM's are pretty robust...I would doubt that most of all.

The tower internal to the coil wher the ignion wire to the dist connects is notorious for coroding. How are the condition of the dist cap, rotor and ignition wires?

Your sympton of excessive cranking leads me to believe corrion in a ground or bad cap, rotor or wires.

Someone should disconnect the ignotion wire from the center post of the dist cap and hold it close to the contact while the engine is started....spark should be plenty and evident.

If spark is there...problem may be fuel related.

[WmWatt]

If in doubt you can take the ICM to some auto parts stores for free testing. For some more info on the ICM look here

http://www.ag384bn.bravehost.com/cars.htm