'90 Lumina ignition control module r and r problems

[bigtimmy45]

I dunno if anyone can help but if they ran into this problem and have a solution, I would surely be appreciative

I was removing the nuts from the retaining bolts - the nuts are 8mm in size - a couple of them started coming out but then the nut and bolt started spinning in its hole and I cannot remove old dead ICM due to this problem

I need to try and have this car fixed by the end of sunday and its later on saturday so quick replies (if possible) would be very appreciative indeed

p.s.: just an fyi but I am also replacing the crank position sensor as it is mounted underneath the ICM and the coils that are mounted on top as well - the coils and the ICM are bolted to the engine together unfortunately

[jeffcoslacker]

If you have room to grab a hold of them and pull outward, the heads on the underside should catch and stay put...otherwise I'd break/burn that sucker off and be done with it...

[bigtimmy45]

I have given that some thought for sure but they are critical to keeping ignition control module and coils attached to engine - if there is something they are attached to I can also remove at the same time as the package, I can do that

I am in the middle of doing whatever I can to get this job done - it is my only vehicle and my work is about 20 miles away one way from me - I will be looking forward to any further responses if they have ideas or knowledge of another plate they are attached onto I can also remove and then remove module from that plate or bracket or whatever it is attached to

Thanks

[john51md]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

If you have room to grab a hold of them and pull outward, the heads on the underside should catch and stay put...otherwise I'd break/burn that sucker off and be done with it...

Nuts on the Ign. modual? never saw that, both the 4 cyl and V6's i have are mounted with 10mm/12mm (not sure) bolts to the engine by the Ign. mod. back plate. The coils are mounted with (again cant remember exactly) 5/6/7 mm bolts into threaded holes thru the coil and into the back plate.
Upon thinking back, not sure but maybe one ear of the back plate went over a stud and had a nut on it possibly? is that what is turning? If so, i would think as long as the rest are out, should be able to thread stud out of block by the outer nut leaving it in the Ign, mod. back plate till its free?????..

[bigtimmy45]

if I could find a picture to show you what I am up against I would do that but here is the best way I can describe what I am looking at

the ignition control module, coil packs (2) and crank position sensor are attached to something with 4 bolts and nuts - the nuts are 8mm nuts - if there is something the bolts pass through (other than the ignition control module and the coil packs), I cannot find it anywhere in any diagrams online and I have also chatted with a few mechanics and they dont know either - I was able to get one nut off no problem - the other nuts began coming off but then stopped and the whole nut and bolt assembly started turning

unless I get the nuts off the bolts, I cannot do the remove and replace as needed - I am just about at wits end and ready to call a tow truck to haul to a shop and have them fix what I should be able to do myself at an extreme extra cost I cannot afford - I am already broke from buying the parts and I NEED this car for work

Thank you all for the help you have rendered so far - they are all good ideas

[bigtimmy45]

ok, here is the scoop on getting the module removed and replaced

there are 3 bolts holding a module bracket onto said engine - 2 @ 10mm and one @ 13mm - once those are loose and removed, you need to remove the whole module, coil pack and crank position sensor as a unit along with bracket - the crank sensor bolts onto bracket from beneath - also, there are 4 bolts with 8mm nuts that hold the ignition control module and the coil packs together as one unit and those bolts pass thru the module bracket so everything has to be removed and replaced as a unit only - no other way this can be done - almost forgot, you need to move the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold out to the firewall moved a ways out of the way so that module unit can be removed and then replaced from the "black hole of calcutta" between engine and firewall

by the way, my lumina is a 1990 sedan with a 2.5L 4cyl and an auto tranny - I am happy to say it has about 217,500 miles, uses no oil between changes and when its running, it runs great (especially with bioethanol gas)

[john51md]

Originally Posted by bigtimmy45

ok, here is the scoop on getting the module removed and replaced

there are 3 bolts holding a module bracket onto said engine - 2 @ 10mm and one @ 13mm - once those are loose and removed, you need to remove the whole module, coil pack and crank position sensor as a unit along with bracket - the crank sensor bolts onto bracket from beneath - also, there are 4 bolts with 8mm nuts that hold the ignition control module and the coil packs together as one unit and those bolts pass thru the module bracket so everything has to be removed and replaced as a unit only - no other way this can be done - almost forgot, you need to move the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold out to the firewall moved a ways out of the way so that module unit can be removed and then replaced from the "black hole of calcutta" between engine and firewall

by the way, my lumina is a 1990 sedan with a 2.5L 4cyl and an auto tranny - I am happy to say it has about 217,500 miles, uses no oil between changes and when its running, it runs great (especially with bioethanol gas)

I thought we were talking V6. My 91 had a 2.5. and i replaced coils without removing modual a couple times. And i replaced modual without removing any exaust pipe, yes it was tight and had to turn it several ways as it came out, but it came out.
Once you remove the coils first, modual is a lot thinner and will come out. you just have to lay across engine and stand on your head to do it. And not have arms like popeye.

[bigtimmy45]

Originally Posted by john51md

I thought we were talking V6. My 91 had a 2.5. and i replaced coils without removing modual a couple times. And i replaced modual without removing any exaust pipe, yes it was tight and had to turn it several ways as it came out, but it came out.
Once you remove the coils first, modual is a lot thinner and will come out. you just have to lay across engine and stand on your head to do it. And not have arms like popeye.

thats okay - this whole repair has been a learning experience for me - now I just have to wait out the rain to finish the job - it would be nice to be able to remove the coils first however the bolts that hold the coils and module onto the bracker are turning in their holes not allowing the nuts to come completely off - when I finally get the whole unit out from its hole, I will severely clean off everything and then reinstall - I am also gonna try and find something to hold the bolts tight so I dont have to put the whole thing in as a unit as that will be a royal pain "you know where"

once I do this and am able to get it going again, I plan on getting a second job (which is waiting for me) and then finish the complete repairs it really needs like rpelacing thermostat, flush and refill radiator, replace MAP sensor, replace exhaust manifold and O2 sensor together, and perhaps a few other things - at least these other things will be easier to accomplish (LOL)

many thanks to all who put their thots into my issue and gave me good ideas - this is a great forum and I havent found another as good as this one yet