Signs of bad DIS Module?
- Thread starter SHOByrds
- Start date
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JRA2000TL
The Complainer
You're probably going to have some rough idle and misfire symptoms. If your CEL light is on, pull the codes first.
SuperHO
Mental Patient
they'll start staying out after curfew without calling, coming home smelling like cigarettes, *** and booze, getting into fights at school, talking back, dressing horribly and not caring about their overall appearance....
zblackbeast
SHOtarded
Your car wont run...
when my module was cracked about 1.5 years ago. the connector kept sliding out causing heavy misfires all the way around!
when my module was cracked about 1.5 years ago. the connector kept sliding out causing heavy misfires all the way around!
frosho
WOLFMAN
It'll run, just not well.
I've had two DIS modules go bad. Both had similar symptoms when they were going out - an occasional rough idle coupled with a severe loss of power that would get more and more frequent until it was always running rough. At first, it was like the car had multiple personalities. It would be running fine and then out of nowhere, it would run like shit and have no power (severe misfire, possibly multiple cylinders). Sometimes it would "fix" itself, sometimes not. I tried my best to find some sort of pattern to these episodes, but couldn't. Aside from the frequency getting worse over time, it seemed totally random. The check engine light would illuminate during these episodes as well.
I've had two DIS modules go bad. Both had similar symptoms when they were going out - an occasional rough idle coupled with a severe loss of power that would get more and more frequent until it was always running rough. At first, it was like the car had multiple personalities. It would be running fine and then out of nowhere, it would run like shit and have no power (severe misfire, possibly multiple cylinders). Sometimes it would "fix" itself, sometimes not. I tried my best to find some sort of pattern to these episodes, but couldn't. Aside from the frequency getting worse over time, it seemed totally random. The check engine light would illuminate during these episodes as well.
jbserra
SHO Member
My current situation sounds a lot like frosho's. What adds to the mystery is it happened at the same spot on my commute 3-4 different times. It never happened on the way TO work, but would happen occasionally on the way FROM work within a 2 mile span of highway. How weird is that?!? I was trying to correlate location and this issue, but I'm not sure I was going to find an answer.
I'll pull the codes tonight. Will it tell me DIS or will it just record the misfires?
I'll pull the codes tonight. Will it tell me DIS or will it just record the misfires?
frosho
WOLFMAN
The codes I got were related to spark, but I don't remember what they were. The first time was a LONG time ago, before I knew what the **** I was doing. The second time was last year around late spring/early summer. I don't think I even pulled codes that time. The symptoms told me that I had the same issue as before, so I replaced the DIS and the problem was gone.
How often are these episodes occurring for you?
How often are these episodes occurring for you?
Every time I have had a DIS go bad, my indicated RPM was half of my actual RPM.
frosho
WOLFMAN
I forgot about that. Mine was the same, though I thought it was more like 2/3 of the actual RPM. Regardless, the tach was reading low.
jbserra
SHO Member
So my tach flat lining might also be an indicator?
After it happened the first time, it could've been a week or more before it happened again, then maybe another couple of weeks.
Yesterday was the worst occurrence. I was heading to the shoulder when it decided it was ok and I was able to drive it home. The tach was at zero. I shut the engine off and coasted down a long hill and then bump started it only to continue having issues. I drove to the auto parts store, but there were a couple more issues while in traffic. It had previously only happened on the highway so I assumed this was getting worse.
I disconnected the battery, let it sit for a couple minutes, reconnected and started. It idled, then went loopy a few times, then resumed idle. I believe the tach was still dead on the way home.
I left it at home today waiting for a code check. I will check the grounds on the DIS as well. The CPS was replaced 20-30k ago so I'm hoping that's not it.
After it happened the first time, it could've been a week or more before it happened again, then maybe another couple of weeks.
Yesterday was the worst occurrence. I was heading to the shoulder when it decided it was ok and I was able to drive it home. The tach was at zero. I shut the engine off and coasted down a long hill and then bump started it only to continue having issues. I drove to the auto parts store, but there were a couple more issues while in traffic. It had previously only happened on the highway so I assumed this was getting worse.
I disconnected the battery, let it sit for a couple minutes, reconnected and started. It idled, then went loopy a few times, then resumed idle. I believe the tach was still dead on the way home.
I left it at home today waiting for a code check. I will check the grounds on the DIS as well. The CPS was replaced 20-30k ago so I'm hoping that's not it.
ViPER1313
SHO Member
Check your codes - it sounds more like a bad cam position sensor to me. Codes will let you know for sure.
cam sensor.
jbserra
SHO Member
dead tach = cam sensor or something else I said?
frosho
WOLFMAN
This.^ Check the codes before changing parts, though.
Also, you're supposed to reset the idle after cutting power to the PCM. Here's the procedure (see post #2) - http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=10161
sorry for the thread jack but i have had this problem with the missfire fixing itself..im thinking that my motor mounts are so bad the dis box will be shocked by the movement or connection will weaken becasue it only acts up when i get on it and shift....and the motor goes clunk and then it misfires. sometimes it fixes itself but other times i can stall it out (make the motor jump) and the missfire will go away.....could a missfire cause a noice like a valve tick? sorry if that was confusing
frosho
WOLFMAN
Not sure about the noise, but it sounds like your DIS might be hitting the torque limiter bracket on the strut tower. Fix those mounts! You're not doing your exhaust any favors (or anything else for that matter) by letting the engine move around like that.
im buying reinforced motor mounts friday so we will see. i have allready snapped a exhaust hanger in the rear (one that i made to hang the cherrybombs from) i welded it back last week and its allready broken again.
Check grounds. Do you have the ground strap on that goes from the back of the engine to the body?
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