TRX450DC Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) hi everybody, i'm new to this forum, tho i've visited often just searching for advice from some of you experts out there. my 1979 brat has had an 1984 electronic distributor since i bought it (about six months ago). i believe it came out of an '84 subaru wagon. i know my brat came originally with a points disty, but seems to run fine with what it has now. the only problem is that my module inside the disty has fried twice now, and i'm wondering if anyone might know right off the top of their head what would cause this. i've gotta be missing something that the '84 had or maybe have a typical short somewhere. my mechanic/helper and i are a bit stumped. thanks Edited March 15, 2012 by TRX450DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) Failure of secondary ignition components,usually. Bad/loose plug/coil wires,open rotor,very bad distributor cap etc.. I`ve seen this several times. Ungrounded high voltage backfeeds into the ignition module,destroying it. The ballast resistor used w/your original points system may not be compatible w/your updated electronic ignition. Coil could be a problem too.It should match the disty.Some coils draw too too much current for some modules. You want to match an 84 Hitachi coil w/an 84 Hitachi distributor.Same for 84 NipponDensos for maximum failure insurance. I would grab the correct one at the junkyard ,just to be sure. Plug/coil wires can be too "good" as well. Stock resistance type wires limit the current on the high voltage side.Replacing them w/non-resistance solid core wires can be problematic. Haven`t personaly seen this failure mode,but,it happens. For some reason,Subaru in thier infinite wisedom gives no ignition wire specs in the 84 FSM.General rule for older cars is usually something like 5k-10k ohms/foot. Edited March 22, 2012 by naru + coil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivans imports Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Check alt output cant be more than 14.20 anymore will burnup mods alts like to overcharge on theese years seen them go as high as 20 volts check it about 3000 rpms evrything off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRX450DC Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share Posted April 13, 2012 thanks guys, sorry it took so ong to respond. i turns out my coil wasn't only from the wrong vehicle entirely, it was also leaking pretty bad when i pilled off the wire boot. i have yet to check alternator output, but i'll get on that next. thanks again. there's one more thing i've been struggling with on this brat; it's a mid range stutter mostly when i punch the accelerator. i thought it might be a clogged accelerator pump, but when i look down into the carb and hit the gas i see a nice squirt of fuel spit out. any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Since the accelerator pump is strong,suspect ignition. I would change plugs,measure plugwire resistance and inspect the cap and rotor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR DLEX Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 on your acceration issue,check the secondary "flapper"valve(the thing with the counterweight) it should move very easily and drop with a slight "ckink". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlindSight Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 thanks for the question, info will be useful for me right now as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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