1990 E150 Where's my ICM?

[FormerMech]

Can anyone tell me where the ICM is on my 1990 E150, 300 ci, inline6? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

After reading, it sounds like mine may be bad. The van will start, run for 15 second, die, and then it will act like it wants to run, but won't until I let it sit for a few minutes. Then I can get another 15-30 second run out of it....Just enough to get it onto a trailer...Praise God...no come-alonging.

I put a timing light on a plug wire and it quits blinking right when the rpms start to decrease prior to stalling. Makes me think I am losing spark.

[Allen McCready]

Originally Posted by FormerMech

Can anyone tell me where the ICM is on my 1990 E150, 300 ci, inline6? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

After reading, it sounds like mine may be bad. The van will start, run for 15 second, die, and then it will act like it wants to run, but won't until I let it sit for a few minutes. Then I can get another 15-30 second run out of it....Just enough to get it onto a trailer...Praise God...no come-alonging.

I put a timing light on a plug wire and it quits blinking right when the rpms start to decrease prior to stalling. Makes me think I am losing spark.

If by ICM you mean ignition control module, then it depends on which ignition system your engine has. My 91 E150 5.0L V8 has a TFI system and the module was mounted on the side of the distributor by two hex head screws, which require a special ?7/32" wrench, which I got at Pepboy for $3-$5. I had to remove the distributor to get at one of the screws, which meant that I had to make positioning marks on the distributor housing, engine, and on the rotor, before removing the distributor. Upon reinstallation, I still had to use a timing light to re-set the timing according to the specs on a decal on the underside of the hood.

However, the Haynes manual also shows Duraspark II and III systems. It shows a diagram of a Duraspark II distributor and says it applies to a six cylinder engine. The Duraspark II diagram shows the ignition module connected by a wire bundle that goes to the distributor, tach test terminal on the ignition coil, and also the ignition switch. the Duraspark III diagram shows no connection between the module and the distributor. Both diagrams shows the module as a separate, flat, rectangular unit. No pictures of the engine location were given.


The directions that came with my ignition module said that the electrical resistance across the input terminals on the ignition coil should be between .3 and 1.0 ohms. The directions said if the resistance was below .4 ohms, replace the coil before replacing the ignition module, or the coil could burn out the module. I bought an $18 multitester at Walmarts which had a digital display and registered tenths of ohms, accurate to a resolution of .2 ohms. My ignition coil and a replacement I bought for it just in case both showed .7 ohms on that meter, so apparently I didn't need to replace the coil.

[jmcculloch66]

Since you posted a month ago I would guess you have found your ICM by now. If you haven't, or for anyone else who can't find it, if it is not on your distributor I found mine mounted to the fender wall behind the battery on my '96 E150 straight 6.

[mrfixit64857]

For the record, I have replaced mine twice on my '89 5.8L W/EEEIV... But did not remove the distributor. I was able to mark it then turn it counterclockwise far enough to get at both screws. I bought A.Z.'s 1/4inch driveset a while ago so I already had the 7/32" deepwell, and don't forget the all-important siliconized lithium grease smeared on the backplate, lol...

[FormerMech]

Thanks for the info. The ICM is on the distributor, and replacing it fixed the problem. The van had over-heated the week prior the the failure. This may have contributed to the death of the ICM. O'Reilly's and AutoZone tested it. O'Reilly's said that it passed two and failed one of three tests. AutoZone said there was nothing wrong with it. I replaced it anyway, and the problem went away. I, too, was able to do it without removing the distributor, and mine did not require turning it.

Thanks for the help.

[jmcculloch66]

I'm having a no spark problem with my '96 E150 and Autozone said there is no problem with my ICM. You have just convinced me to get a second opinion as I am running out of options. Thanks.

[mrfixit64857]

could be the coil too. mine failed two years ago.