Replay asap if you know the answer pls

[Downtown]

I have a 1990 lumina 3.1 car not the van..... it runs really rough and seems to miss...plus it has no power at times... I had it tested and the mechanic said it needs a new coil and a new ignition control module ...i bought the parts and am in the process of fixing it...

My question is this can it be just the coil that is bad and not the module as well... it seems when we took the bad coil off the car ran the same so we think it may be as simple as just putting a good coil on...


any ideas??

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Downtown

I have a 1990 lumina 3.1 car not the van..... it runs really rough and seems to miss...plus it has no power at times... I had it tested and the mechanic said it needs a new coil and a new ignition control module ...i bought the parts and am in the process of fixing it...

My question is this can it be just the coil that is bad and not the module as well... it seems when we took the bad coil off the car ran the same so we think it may be as simple as just putting a good coil on...


any ideas??

It may be just the coil, and since each fires two cylinders, it is a huge loss to the engine if bad. But the coils and module have similar service lives, plus running the motor with one coil removed may have damaged the module. I'd go ahead and do 'em both, or you will probably just be in there doing it in a short time.

[Downtown]

we pulled the wires to test it we didnt run it with the coil off.... still do you think we should still replace it?

[jeffcoslacker]

It could also be that the module has degraded in a way that is causing erratic firing at that coil. Either way, I'd do 'em both.

[Downtown]

k thanks now another question is is there an easy way to get at the bottom bolts? I got one off but i can barely touch the other 2 and have no chance it seems of getting a socket on them

[Downtown]

ok fixed the first problem the ignition module and a new coil worked great... car now sounds better runs smooth and has POWER!!! I love it.....

NEW problem is every once in a while when just cruisin along no foot on the gas it seems to choke out and stall ..... it starts up fine and goes good but just when i let it coast at any speed it seems to wanna die?? also when i start it it revs up then settles again something i have never ever seen a car do without someones foot on the gas?

any ideas??

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Downtown

ok fixed the first problem the ignition module and a new coil worked great... car now sounds better runs smooth and has POWER!!! I love it.....

NEW problem is every once in a while when just cruisin along no foot on the gas it seems to choke out and stall ..... it starts up fine and goes good but just when i let it coast at any speed it seems to wanna die?? also when i start it it revs up then settles again something i have never ever seen a car do without someones foot on the gas?

any ideas??

It sounds like what they do when trying to "relearn" the proper idle strategy. Did you disconnect the battery during any of this? If so, that's what's happening. It will correct itself as driven. To speed up recovery, you can pull the ECM fuse, and leave it out for about 20 minutes, letting it revert back to factory settings. It is probably currently trying to operate under the parameters it encountered while running with a dead coil. The ECM hasn't figured out that the problem no longer exists.

[Downtown]

Where do i find the ECM fuse. Thanks for the great advice if I knew you i would buy you lunch! :P

[jeffcoslacker]

I can't remember on the older ones. You gotta owner's manual? Keep me advised, there is another problem you might have if this doen't help. Not going to worry you about that yet. How many miles on this one?

[tblake]

The ECM fuse on older luminas is located in the fuse panel in the glove box, I'm not sure which one, but there is (or should be) a diagram right on the back of the fuse panel cover. Like jeffcoslacker stated, just pull it, and leave it sit. Maybe want to try an idle relearn procedure also. They can be found various places on the net. Sorry I dont have a link at this time.

[Downtown]

Do you leave the Car off when you pull the fuse? I pulled the fuse and notihing seemed to change I am wondering if its maybe a thermostat problem it seems to wanna stall out like its not hot enough.... any thoughts...

[Downtown]

I tried the ECM fuse method and the battery unhook method and I even did the relearn idle procedure and none of these things did anything ...Actually the car stalls more often now then before ....any ideas pls!!!!

[Downtown]

I think I fixed the problem.... so simple it hurts I changed the fuel filter.... the old one was plugged tight.... also the relearn idle procedure worked like a charm for the strange idle patterns

[jeffcoslacker]

That would do that. Wierd how a spent fuel filter can do different thing in different cars. Last time I had one go bad, it would hack and gag trying to accelerate, but idle perfect.

[Downtown]

PLS Help Read my last post it was called REPLAY ASAP ........etc



I thought the problem was fixed but its not the fuel filter swap made it run better but it still stalls ..... even stalled on a hwy doing 60 in loads of traffic that was scary..... now what do I do I am frustrated and at a loss.... pls help!