Something isn't right and I have no idea why my car keeps on eating up these ignition modules.

I have a stock HEI distributor with the Accel Cap (coil is mounted in the cap)Rotor Coil and wires. All of the modules have been stock replacements.

The only other thing that that I replaced was a the wire from the fuse box to the coil but I dont see how that would relate to this problem.

The car hasn't burned them out while it was running, its always when it is sitting over night.

I have no idea why they keep on going out. The only thing that I can think of is that the stock module cant handle the heat of the accel stuff. Should I be using an Accel ignition module?

Thanks
Jason

are you using thermal grease between the module and the base? What kind of voltage are you getting at the distributor? Maybe the voltage regulator is spiking the power to the HEI? just some guesses....

mike

Originally posted by RVA SS:
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The only other thing that that I replaced was a the wire from the fuse box to the coil but I dont see how that would relate to this problem.

The car hasn't burned them out while it was running, its always when it is sitting over night.


What about the metal ground strap under the ignition coil?

Is there any way the HEI could be getting some sort of voltage feedback with the ignition off?

Did you use a voltmeter to test the power wire when you hooked it up when the ignition is shut off? If it reads any voltage when the key is off-it will fry. graemlins/beers.gif

as 71350ss said. check for the ground strap in the cap.I've seen this many times.Most people don't know it's not part of the cap.

the ground strap should be fine. I know its been installed but perhaps it moved a little bit since the cap has been on and off a lot.

I like the theory that the cap is getting voltage when the key is off. I will have to check that out.

lots and lots of dielectric grease has been used

Well the 4th one just got fried.Before the module went out I checked the cap when the key is off and it is getting nothing. Everything in cap is fine. I actually bought a new one just to make sure that it wasn't a faulty cap.

Would this problem have anything to do with the voltage regualtor?

I just noticed that the car is turning out 16 volts all the time instead of 14.5. I would assume that would be a caused by a bad regulator, but are these 2 problems related at all?

Make sure the voltmeter you are using is correctly calibrated. Most aren't, I had an Accel Hei coil that was bad from the factory. It actually fried the feed wires to the module. See if you can find a stock coil somewhere just to try.

I heard somewhere that Accel coils are super hot. That would indicate they consume a bit more juice from the module. I believe Accel has a module as does MSD for the hot coils. Also, I was told just today that MSD supplies a different rotor contact for use with their coils and modules. I beleve that MSD modules are heavier duty than stock. you may want to think about using Accel or MSD modules for the high output coil.

16v is WAY too much voltage. Make sure to check it with a commercial charging system tester (I.E. SUN or SnapOn)because it is calibrated, or with a digital volt meter. They are generally calibrated within .1 volt if it cost more than $20. To be sure, just measure across the battery terms on another car whhile it's running. It should measure 14.3. Then measure yours. Should be close to the same. Given the 16v situation, you may indeed be getting a spike on start up. Too high a voltage will boil the battery and fry electronics (like the ignition module).