DIS Module

[Electric Frost]

Hello, my new red 92 seems to have a problem with the DIS ICM. What it will do is sometimes, run fine, other times, the engine will go into a funny mode where there is greatly reduced power, and rough running, as if the firing order is off, or some are not firing alltogether, accompanied by a CEL. How do I know it's the ICM, because when I put that one in my other 92, it dad the exact same thing. My question is, is there any thing I can do to try to it before I go and replace it with a new one? I have already cleaned the back of it off and the screw hole faces as well. They must be important terminals because at one point I had only two screws in and it wouldn't start. I don't think it's a problem with the grounding though, since it does the exact same thing in 2 different cars. Any ideas, or am I just gonna have to get a new one???

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

Hey, the only thing i think of to say is on your crossover tube on the intake manifold (the tube where the DIS is mounted) make sure both bolts are in, take them out, hit the bolts and where the tube rests on the manifold with a wire brush or something. those are electrical grounds and sometimes give problems if not making a good connection. otherwise id say you need a new one. sorry man.

 

[Blast7]

I would post a message in the Contacting SHO members section and see if there are any SHO buddies around you that are willing to loan you a DIS. Also, I would try and run the codes.

 

[luigisho]

Since you tried it in the other car and it ran poorly did you try the DIS module that is in good working order on the car that's running poorly? If the other ignition module cures the poor running problem then a replacement is in order.

 

[Electric Frost]

Yes I drove the red car with the good module out of the silver car for a couple of days with no problem. I have pretty much narrowed it down to a defective DIS, but I was just wondering in there is anything fixable in there, or is it simply a matter of replacing it?

 

[luigisho]

I'm sure maybe an electronics person could figure it out. If I was looking for a cheap fix I'd look for a used one on ebay or the assorted SHO classifieds.

 

[Bizzy]

you said you cleaned the back of it off? Make sure you put another thin layer of heatsink greas on the back of it. I just had mine off the otherday while cleaning my intake, and I cleaned all the bolts that hold it on, and cleaned the back of it up really good. I then applied a new layer of silicone heatsink grease (like for computer cpu's) and then reinstalled. Not that I had any troubles before with my DIS, but I was doing a through cleaning of my intake.

The heatsink grease helps the thermal reansfer of heat from the DIS unit to that big alum. think we call our intake. I would bet that the DIS unit does generate a certain amount of heat, and that is why it is mounted on a "giant heatsink". It could be that you DIS is overheating, and that is causeing it to run like crap. Heatsink grease is like $2-3 at any radioshack.

 

[Electric Frost]

Make sure you put another thin layer of heatsink greas on the back of it.

Hmmm, thats good advice, with all the switching I've been doing, I should re-coat it, yep I cleaned them off, grease too, I wasn't sure what it was for... my bad. I don't think it's overheating though, cause sometimes it will do it immediately upon start-up. Well thanks for the advice guys, I will try to find a used one i guess. I've just put a new CKP and used PCM as well as several hours of ignition/wiring labour into this car so $$$'s are low.

 

[Electric Frost]

I forgot one other thing....

Is the DIS ICM common to all 89-95 ATX & MTX, I have heard there are two different ones, a DY 655 and a DY 958 as shown on SHO NUT perf.'s site. Which one do I need, or does it matter?

 

[sdpatt]

Electric Frost:
How do I know it's the ICM, because when I put that one in my other 92, it dad the exact same thing.

When the CEL illuminated, error codes were set. Check the codes. Tell us what you find.

 

[SHOZ123]

Here's the insides of one ICM Innards

<small>[ December 15, 2002, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[RCM]

If you find that you need a DIS module and don't want to buy new, I have an excellent used one available. It functions perfectly and has no cracks or other damage whatsoever.

Russ
[email protected]

Electric Frost:
Any ideas, or am I just gonna have to get a new one???

 

[sdpatt]

I wouldn't immediately replace the DIS, since even a bad ground to the DIS can set both the CPS and CID error codes. In fact, if you do get both of these codes, the DIS or its ground are the primary possibilities. You really need to get the error codes.

 

[Electric Frost]

I wouldn't immediately replace the DIS, since even a bad ground to the DIS can set both the CPS and CID error codes. In fact, if you do get both of these codes, the DIS or its ground are the primary possibilities. You really need to get the error codes.

Yes, I know, although it has been posted 1,000,000 times how easy it is, I've never done it before. I'll read up on it today and check it as soon as the weather warms up (right now it's
-10C) My other question was is the DIS module common to all 89-95, in case I need to get another one?

 

[luigisho]

Yes.

 

[Electric Frost]

Okay, well it has been a couple of days, but I have finally ran the codes.

Here's what I got:
hard codes: 114, 116
mem. codes: 121, 126, 211, 215, 542

I don't think the 144 or 116 have anything to do with my problem, and many of the mem codes are from when the CKP (PIP) and PCM were changed, I'm not sure about the fuel pump one though, it must have been changed before I got it. I am guessing that my
215 (M) Primary circuit failure - ignition coil 1
is probably the DIS problem related code.

 

[luigisho]

If the wiring looks ok and the car ran poorly with the original DIS, then the DIS from another car was swapped and installed in the same fashion as the original, and the car ran in the proper manner then I would hazard to guess that the DIS is the problem.

The only variable here is the manner in which both DIS modules were connected(same or not?) or a wiggle test which would indicate faulty wiring.

 

[Electric Frost]

would hazard to guess that the DIS is the problem

Yes, I agree, but sdpatt really wanted me to read the codes. Plus it was my first time and I had to do it sooner or later, so now I can do it whenever. beer

 

[pjtoledo]

SHOZ123:
Here's the insides of one ICM Innards

I could not pull up that link. Is it still good? Could you post the adddress please.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[SHOZ123]

Sorry it seems the poster of those pics has pulled them from the web.