distributor keeps burning out? help !!! pls.

[bigwally9876]

notthing i dont really know how, how can i

[Brian R.]

Disconnect the high-tension wire from the distributer cap (coming from the coil). Hold it 1/2 inch from a body grounding point and crank the engine. See if you get spark. Don't crank the engine for more than 5-10 sec.

Post the results

[bigwally9876]

nope no spark, but it was like that when i changed the distributer the first time and then i had spark again, but now its the same shit all over again, i think some thing for some reason is burning out my distributers

[Brian R.]

If you are not getting spark to the distributor, then it is not the distributor that is not functioning, it is something in the circuit that feeds juice to the distributor. Get off the distributor kick. It is very unlikely to be your distributor, and most costly.

Check the connections to your coil, igniter and distributor.

if Ok, check resistance of high-tension leads (no more than 25 kohms).

If ok, check power supply to ignition coil and igniter - Turn ignition on and check for 12 volts at coil positive terminal

If ok, check resistance of ignition coil
Primary = 0.36 - 0.55 ohms
Secondary = 9.0 - 15.4 kohms

If ok, check resistance of signal generator (pick-up coil)
135 - 220 ohms

If ok, check resistance of crankshaft position sensor
985 - 1600 ohms

If ok, check air gap of distributor
0.2 - 0.4 mm (0.0008 - 0.016")

Check IGT signal from ECM

If ok, replace ignitor - could still be coil.

[It is a car!]

It may be faulty Ignition/spark plug wires.
the spark is getting grounded somewhere.
worth a check.

I had a similar intermittent problem with a geo prizm to one cylinder; replaced the spark cables and that was the end of the problem- it turns out that the life-time wires set were defective causing a spark short.