Engine will run a little while then stall

TINAK32

MEMBER
1994 CHEVROLET S-10
120,000 MILES

My husband has a 94 zr2 s10, it will start and run for a few minutes and quit, he can drive it for a short distance and it will quit on him, he is getting fire from the coil tot he distributor but no fire is coming from the distributor

Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 9:06 PM

5 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Maybe a problem with cap or rotor? Does the rotor turn when you crank the engine? Any applicable trouble codes? How long since a tune-up?

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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 9:20 PM

TINAK32

MEMBER
3 POSTS

He's put on a new distributor cap new module new plugs new pickup coil there is no fire coming from the distributor it has to be coming from the firing system do you have any other options that we can go by

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Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 AT 2:47 AM

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

If the spark is getting from the coil to the cap, then the problem lies in the distributor somewhere. Missing or defective rotor? Rotor not turning inside distributor indicating either a broken distributor shaft, distributor drive gear, or cam gear.

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Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 AT 5:21 AM

TINAK32

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The rotor is turning I have replaced the distributor cap the module the coil spark plugs the rotor the key firing box and computer i'm getting power to the coil but not the distributor any more suggestions

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Thursday, December 15th, 2011 AT 2:11 AM

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

Ok. Power to the coil is different from the coil supplying a spark. Use a well insulated Phillips screwdriver. Pull the coil wire from the distributor and insert the screwdriver into the boot. Hold the screwdriver shaft about 1/8 to 1/4 inch from a good ground, and have someone crank the engine. You should see a strong, snapping blue spark. If not, replace the coil.

If it is an HEI coil (the kind mounted on the distributor cap) disconnect the wires and measure the resistance across the coil and let us know what you find.