1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

distributor pickups

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Old 01-30-10, 11:15 AM
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distributor pickups

Has anyone ever had to replace the pickups under the distributor cap? Any tips on what to look out for?
Old 01-30-10, 12:56 PM
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never have needed to replace them. but it can't be too hard, couple screws hold them in. u'll need to readjust the air gap tho.
Old 01-30-10, 02:26 PM
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Why do you think your's need replaced?
Old 01-30-10, 03:41 PM
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not sure that it does. But I'm only getting spark from one of the lines that go from the cap to the coils. I changed the coils around and still the same one doesnt fire. I wouldnt think the wire it self would be bad so I'm thinking its a matter of the one of the pick ups not picking up the spark. The coils get power it just doesnt hit the cap.
Old 01-30-10, 08:45 PM
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well it's probably not the pickups inside the cap but rather the ignitor on the outside of the distributor.
Old 01-30-10, 09:17 PM
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I was thinking that it could be that to. Is there a way to check those?
Old 01-31-10, 01:54 AM
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Not the igniter. If it was, both trailing or leading plugs would be dead. Check the inside of the rotor cap, then the air gap for the pickups. Also the spark plug wires and plugs.
Old 01-31-10, 12:42 PM
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ok maybe i read wrong but sounded like one coil wasn't working.
Old 01-31-10, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by smoothd
I was thinking that it could be that to. Is there a way to check those?
swap the ignitor connectors, if the bad coil changes too, you've found your problem...

ive never seen a bad pickup coil assembly, but ignitors do go bad
Old 01-31-10, 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by rxtasy3
ok maybe i read wrong but sounded like one coil wasn't working.
I checked the coils. It is just the spark is not going from the coil to the cap. The trailing coil spark plug is not sparking, but the leading 1 is.
Old 01-31-10, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by trochoid
Not the igniter. If it was, both trailing or leading plugs would be dead. Check the inside of the rotor cap, then the air gap for the pickups. Also the spark plug wires and plugs.
The air gap is cool and the wires are cool. I could use new plugs, but thats due to the flooding trying to get the car going. I will change them and see.

But would the dead spark plug cause the coil not to send a spark?
Old 01-31-10, 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by smoothd
It is just the spark is not going from the coil to the cap.
then the wire between the coil and cap is bad.

Originally Posted by smoothd
The trailing coil spark plug is not sparking, but the leading 1 is.
so u have leading spark(at each plug) but no trailing spark(at each plug)?
Old 01-31-10, 11:58 PM
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got new wires
Old 02-02-10, 10:49 PM
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I'm just going to find a used distributor for now, so I can get her back on the road.
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