Measuring Impedance or Resistance on Igniter

I can not find any service manual that describes how to test the igniter on the '93 Toyota Pickup. This is back to back with the ignition coil. It does have an electrical plug with six electrodes for connection. It should have a minimum and maximum resistance. Napa auto parts in Guam told me that it is a trade secret with Toyota that they are the only ones that can test the part.

A new igniter goes for 700 dollars at Napa Auto Parts in Anigua, Guam

any ideas out there on this.


Jcaguon in Guam

I don't know of any way to test the igniter, other than replacing it with a known good one and seeing if the problem disappears. Salvage yards may have them. There are much more complex circuits in the igniter than just a simple resistive circuit. Measuring resistance will tell you nothing.

I would think the coil is much more likely to be the problem. They are known to go bad. If you haven't replaced the coil with one from Toyota, I would try that first, even if it tests good. Coils don't test true when you are only using 9 V or so to test the resistance and they operate at hundreds of kV in the secondary circuit. Also, aftermarket coils are not reliable - use OEM only.

Thanks for the reply Brian. Your advise holds true for this particular part for the pickup. Thanks a million . Eric the car guy tests this part by using an auto test light on his website that shows blinking and no blinking on the negative terminal side of the coil as a good way to test the defectiveness of the part. Maybe you know this by now.

I have recently ordered a good used part from Ebay and hope it gets the pickup kicking again. Pickups are so expensive these days.

John Aguon

The FSM has a small procedure for checking the igniter.
There is also instructions on the web to use a GM part to build your own, I can't vouch for any results