I have a Geo metro 1.0 with 178000k. I have replaced the plugs/wires rotor and timed. Before I replaced the above the car pinged alot but I was getting over 60 mpg. After I replaced the above and timed the engine gas mileage went down to under 50, but no pinging.
I started to think that the timing is not advancing under load. Has anyone else had this problem or similar symptoms. I am thinking that it might be the ignition control module, does anyone know how to check it.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks

I have a Geo metro 1.0 with 178000k. I have replaced the plugs/wires rotor and timed. Before I replaced the above the car pinged alot but I was getting over 60 mpg. After I replaced the above and timed the engine gas mileage went down to under 50, but no pinging.
I started to think that the timing is not advancing under load. Has anyone else had this problem or similar symptoms. I am thinking that it might be the ignition control module, does anyone know how to check it.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks

I have to ask... but when you performed the timing adjustment did you jumper the diagnostic connector before adjustment?

Blake

I have to ask... but when you performed the timing adjustment did you jumper the diagnostic connector before adjustment?

Blake


Hi Blake.
Thanks for responding.
No I seemed to have missed that part. I always seem to get a car that is in the middle of some change.
I have a Haynes manual and the picture of the Diagnostic connector is white with 4 female pins, that is suppose to be beside the ignition coil. The only connector that I can find is a black 4 pin connector with a small termination box on the end of it. It doesn't look like the one in the picture. In my book it's page 5-5.
Have you seen any other pictures on it.
Any suggestions.
Thanks

Mine a 96 (CAN manuf. date 9/95) also pings when coming up my very steep hill. My book likely has the same pic but advises to find a decal under the hood (w/pinout). The decal has the Emission info on it. My connector is white or clear (6 pin) with a black rubber boot covering mounted to the firewall behind the drivers side strut.

I can't find my timing light to check it and was wondering if there is a way to use a simple test light like in days gone by?

Hope that helps.

ps. My brother-in-law mechanic says turn up the radio.
Gumby_CT

depending on year of car you may not have to jump pins. if you have a 89-91? you might have vacuum advance, see if dist has 2 rubber hoses going to it. if it does you have to unhook them and plug the lines then set timing. when you hook them back up make sure you have them hooked to right spot on dist. if you hook them up backwards they won't work right

ps. My brother-in-law mechanic says turn up the radio.
Gumby_CT[/QUOTE]

Hey Gumby, I like this suggestion. lol

There are two plugs directly behing the drivers strut mount. A smaller one and a larger one. Both are black, and both have rubber boots over them. (Boy is this starting to get frustrating.) After I remove a plug (looks like a termination cap) It has 4 female conectors on it when you remove a plug, these are the normal solderless conectors that are used in a lot of electrical conections.

As for your question, I don't know any other way other than using a timing light. Thanks for your help
Hans

Thanks for replying Crvett69.

There are only two wires coming out of the distributor. No hose and I know the plug that you are refering to not that either.

It seems like everyone else has a white plug and the only ones I can find are black ones. I don't know I starting to think I might be color blind. lol

Hans

Hans, Just as you described -
Mine has 2 also but it is the smaller one I think you want. Does it look like the 4 pin described in the book? With the boot removed. Did you find a decal under the hood?

Mine also has the solderless female pins. Not sure what the extra 2 pins are for.

I think you are there.
Gumby_CT

Yep. That's the one. Mine doesn't look like the one in the Haynes book though. Surprise surprise.

I went to a mechanic today and he showed me the one. Mine has a 6 pin plug with 5 pins with connectors in it.

I will time the car tomorrow and hopefully that is all it is.
I was doing some checking at a few autoparts stores today to see if they could test the ignition control module, there had been a previous post that someone was having problems with theirs and they were able to get it tested. No such luck though.

Thank you for your help.

Have you ever had problems with your valve cover gasket leaking up by the timing belt cover. I have changed the gasket and it still leaks.

Hans

Does that car have a knock sensor? The only way to stop pinging is to retard timing..

I told ya, you were there. Congrats. You da maan!!
Keep us posted. I haven't timed mine yet - but I am sure someone here can help.
Gotta either find my light or a way to do it statically.
Have you ever had problems with your valve cover gasket leaking up by the timing belt cover. I have changed the gasket and it still leaks.

Hans

No - not yet. Maybe not enuff miles?
Right now I just keep it snug.
Good Luck

Yep. That's the one. Mine doesn't look like the one in the Haynes book though. Surprise surprise.

I went to a mechanic today and he showed me the one. Mine has a 6 pin plug with 5 pins with connectors in it.

I will time the car tomorrow and hopefully that is all it is.
I was doing some checking at a few autoparts stores today to see if they could test the ignition control module, there had been a previous post that someone was having problems with theirs and they were able to get it tested. No such luck though.

Thank you for your help.

Have you ever had problems with your valve cover gasket leaking up by the timing belt cover. I have changed the gasket and it still leaks.

Hans


I am glad you were able to locate the connector. So how is it now; still pings?

That crazy connector. I was able to see a firefly pre 95, and noticed that there was only one connector on it.

I just drove it about 1400km. Still pings but not as bad. I put a fuel injector cleaner in the last tank, we'll see how that goes. Anyway I'm back home now and able to do a little more on in it. I will play around on the timing and see if I can't get the max amount of pwr with the least amt of pinging.

Hans

If you want to get rid of the pinging, retard the timing a few degrees..

That crazy connector. I was able to see a firefly pre 95, and noticed that there was only one connector on it.

I just drove it about 1400km. Still pings but not as bad. I put a fuel injector cleaner in the last tank, we'll see how that goes. Anyway I'm back home now and able to do a little more on in it. I will play around on the timing and see if I can't get the max amount of pwr with the least amt of pinging.

Hans

Are you sure of the fuel you use?

Are you sure of the fuel you use?

I have started to use the mid grade gas at 89 octane. Do you know what the recommended octane level is for a Canadian 95 Geo.
Hans

87 minimum recomended. The only vehicles that called for higher octane fuel are sportier cars. Higher compression ratios call for higher grade fuel.

87 minimum recomended. The only vehicles that called for higher octane fuel are sportier cars. Higher compression ratios call for higher grade fuel.

Thank you for looking into that for me. I thought it was the lower octane.

Have you ever tested the ignition pickup coil. I ohmed mine the other day and not sure wether my meter is out of calibration or the Haynes manual is out. Haynes says it should be 140-180 ohms and my meter is showing .2
Hans

Did you test it with the coil on or off the vehicle? All specifications are adjusted so the part must be removed(In most applications).

Did you test it with the coil on or off the vehicle? All specifications are adjusted so the part must be removed(In most applications).

The pickup coil needs to be removed from the distributor or just the distributor needs to be removed from the block.

Nice guitar is that you in the pic.
Hans

Yup, that's my ugly mug....

Hi Blake.
Thanks for responding.
No I seemed to have missed that part. I always seem to get a car that is in the middle of some change.
I have a Haynes manual and the picture of the Diagnostic connector is white with 4 female pins, that is suppose to be beside the ignition coil. The only connector that I can find is a black 4 pin connector with a small termination box on the end of it. It doesn't look like the one in the picture. In my book it's page 5-5.
Have you seen any other pictures on it.
Any suggestions.
Thanks


Same thing here, it's a shame they didn't explain a little better, like wire color etc. They show the picture of the plug with lettering A,B,C,D but the plug is evidently different in some vehicles. Now with a different type of plug, how does a person know what terminals to jump out without the wire color code? Looking at a wiring diagram that I came across, the black 4 pin connector with the termination box to the right of the coil is a noise suppressor (to cancel ignition interference to the radio). The wires to it should be, black/white, black/blue, brown/white, and brown. Next, to the right, is a orange 3 wire plug for the igniter ( I have no idea what the igniter does). The wires for it should be, brown/white, black, and orange. Directly to the right of that is another 4 wire plug that I can't find on the diagram. The wires for it are, green/white, green/white, blue/black, and green. Right next to it, behind the shock tower, is the smaller plug that I assume to be the diagnostic connector, which is a six pin type of which only 5 pins are used. Wires to it are, violet/white, dark blue/white, violet/red, violet/green, and black/blue. The wiring diagram I have isn't the greatest, like I said the one plug isn't shown on it and neither is the diagnostic connector. Any helpful identifying info would be appreciated. I see a few posts down that you found out that the 6 pin plug is the diagnostic terminal, which terminals are to be shorted out to set the timing? What color wires? Here (hopefully, if they post) are a few pictures showing the layout of these plugs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28113417@N04/2622359544/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28113417@N04/2621536403/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28113417@N04/2621536277/sizes/o/

Never mind I finally realized that the under hood decal clearly shows the 6 pin plug and what terminals to short out (black/blue and violet/green). For some reason I was thinking about a 4 pin plug and the little diagram wasn't making sense, then it dawned on me, duh:confused: , it shows the 6 pin plug.