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Topic: HEI Problem

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HEI Problem (1/29)
 6/2/14 9:15pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


Joined: 6/2/2010
Posts: 87

Several times , months apart, when the car has set several weeks, the car fails to start. Engine turns over fine. I have 12 volts to the distributor with key on. Put spark tester on plug wire and no spark when cranking engine.  Each time this happened I have done the same procedure. Disconnect Tach and battery wire and wire connector from distributor. Pull coil out and clean contact and rotor bushing. I stretch the spring a little on the rotor bushing to ensure good contact. The rubber bushing sits on top of the rotor bushing so it is installed properly. Ensure the grounding strap is secured. Put it all back together and it has fired up on first crank each time. I know there is two different rotor bushings that comes with a tune up kit but I don't remember which one I used. Distributor cap and components was put in last fall. It's an Accel kit. I'm leaning towards the rotor bushing spring is the problem. Any suggestion on a high quality cap and coil components that's worked for you or what else may be the problem?
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Re: HEI Problem (2/29)
 6/2/14 10:20pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Go to yer local dealer, or parts house, and get an AC/Delco cap, and a new rotor. No reason to buy Accell crap. Thumbs Up

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Re: HEI Problem (3/29)
 6/3/14 7:39am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

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1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


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Adams' Apple said: Go to yer local dealer, or parts house, and get an AC/Delco cap, and a new rotor. No reason to buy Accell crap. Thumbs Up


^^+1
Agreed...GM/AC DELCO is better than the 
aftermarket stuff IMO. 

I forgot to mention…check for  side to side and excessive up and down free play in the distributor shaft. 


|UPDATED|6/3/2014 4:39:18 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: HEI Problem (4/29)
 6/3/14 12:55pm
aceintheholeLifetime Member
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Manteca, CA - USA

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1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed


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 After frying my coil out on the road, I went straight to the Ign. module and replaced it. Well that wasn't the problem but it did reveal a lacking of dielectric compound under the module which I replenished. Besides saving the module from future burnouts I'm sure the grounding is much better. It actually seems to start a little faster and run better but that could also be the new coil and module. I'm going through my vettes to insure there's plenty of silicone compound under each module,..you know, peace of mind.

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Re: HEI Problem (5/29)
 6/4/14 6:58pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


Joined: 6/2/2010
Posts: 87

Thanks for replies. Changed over cap and rotor to Delco/Remy, checked distributor (1 year old) for play, and module has good coat of di-electric. Will let you know if problem persist. Thanks again...
Re: HEI Problem (6/29)
 6/5/14 5:26pm
Per4manceLifetime Member
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Morganville, NJ - USA

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You need a new coil pick up in the distributor,that's the one that has the wires going to the modual and "sees" that distributor pulse to fire the engine the wires are bad that connect them together
Re: HEI Problem (7/29)
 6/5/14 5:55pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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Can the coil pick-up be intermittent like I'm experiencing?
Re: HEI Problem (8/29)
 6/5/14 5:57pm
flip66
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garland, TX - USA

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I agree with Per4mance I would be willing to bet the pick up coil in the distributor has a broken wire I have seen it several time it can be vary frustrating. You replace stuff and it will fixes for a while then all of the sudden no start. Check the plug and the wires going into it 






|UPDATED|6/5/2014 2:57:59 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: HEI Problem (9/29)
 6/5/14 7:08pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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If the PU coil does prove to be the culprit and I have to pull the distributor I think this would be a good time to just replace the Accel distributor. Steer me to a good reliable brand that has worked for club members. Thanks
Re: HEI Problem (10/29)
 6/6/14 6:10am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

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1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


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tttanker said: If the PU coil does prove to be the culprit and I have to pull the distributor I think this would be a good time to just replace the Accel distributor. Steer me to a good reliable brand that has worked for club members. Thanks


AC Delco…..I had this same distributor in my old crate motor since 2000. It's still out there running that same engine just in another car now. It never gave me a problem. the only thing I did was put a looser set of advance springs in it. 
You may be able to get it cheaper if you shop around. 
 



______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: HEI Problem (11/29)
 6/6/14 9:08am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
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Thumbs Up +1 on using GM parts to replace....IF you determine the pole piece is the culprit.
While the pick up coil/pole piece can cause no starts, they usually do NOT work one time, then not the next without actually moving or otherwise disturbing the wires on it. If the wiring is frayed, or the insulation has fallen off, which is common, if the car does start, it usually don't run very well. The pole piece itself is fairly dependable, but the insulation on the wires to/from it sux, and as the advance plate moves back/forth while running, it can cause the wires to touch, which always causes a misfire, or other symptoms, such as a start/stall issue.
Give the new cap/rotor set-up a few days/weeks to see how it works out before condemning the dist totally....unless you just happen to have some spare $$$ laying around ya wanna get rid of. LOL

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Re: HEI Problem (12/29)
 6/6/14 10:57am
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


Joined: 6/2/2010
Posts: 87

Thanks for the website on the distributor. That's a fair market price. I'll take Adam's Apple advise also and see how the new components work out before I switch distributors. I'll end up changing out anyway but for " lesson learned" I'll run what I have to see the outcome. I'll be staying local for a few months anyway so I could use the exercise if it strands me. Appreciate the replies..
Re: HEI Problem (13/29)
 6/11/14 10:18am
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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Posts: 87

78 still firing up on start attempts after changing to Delco cap and rotor. Question though. Is it possible to get 12 volts to distributor wire with key in the on position but lose it when moving key to start. If the no start shows up again I'm going to put on a test light to see if I have 12 volts in the start mode also. I can't remember if I've ever changed the starter switch  but the crate engine and every other attached  component is only a year old. Runs great under loads and cruising at 75. Thanks
Re: HEI Problem (14/29)
 6/11/14 12:40pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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HEI system should have a full 12v(or battery voltage) on the red wire any time the key is on...even when cranking. A test light will not tell what the voltage is....it will only tell you there is enough voltage there to light the light, which could be a little as 2 volts. You'll need to check that with a multimeter.


Glad it's been firing up otay so far!

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Re: HEI Problem (15/29)
 6/11/14 7:40pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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Joel, good advice on the voltmeter, thanks. I have a new GM Delco Remy distributor waiting on the work bench just in case the gremlin pops back up. May of already fixed it with the GM cap and rotor I put on a few weeks ago. 
Re: HEI Problem (16/29)
 6/11/14 8:32pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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The AC Delco distributor I just acquired has two extra wires coming out of the distributor that isn't on my current distributor and I need some confirmation on there placement. One is black with a round terminal on the end that ends up as two black wires going into the terminal connector just behind where the tach and batt wires hook up. I'm assuming that is a ground wire that bolts to the engine . The second is a gray wire that has a male plug on the end.
Re: HEI Problem (17/29)
 6/11/14 10:22pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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I'm drawing a blank....can you get a picture of it? Might shake a memory out somewhere....


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Re: HEI Problem (18/29)
 6/12/14 1:44am
rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

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1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion


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Does this help The C- is The Tach


Re: HEI Problem (19/29)
 6/12/14 1:50am
rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

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If their is extra wires it would be a distributer for computer control (ECM) I think
Re: HEI Problem (20/29)
 6/12/14 7:21am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
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 That was my first thought, but the later ECM type distributors have a second harness with multiple wires in it that connects to the ECM harness. The one in question here apparently only has two single wires "extra". Need to know where each of them originate...
Wonder if the grey wire with the male plug is for the tach filter?

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Re: HEI Problem (21/29)
 6/12/14 7:58am
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


Joined: 6/2/2010
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I posted a picture of the distributor on the C3 facebook page. Couldn't get it to load on here.
Re: HEI Problem (22/29)
 6/12/14 1:07pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Well that sux! LOL    I can't get FB here at werk!! Boss thought the guys in the shop were spendin waay to much time on there!  LOL

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Joel Adams
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Re: HEI Problem (23/29)
 6/12/14 5:17pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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Geez, don't get fired, I can't afford to pay your salary. Spent all my money on the distributor.
Re: HEI Problem (24/29)
 6/12/14 10:23pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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Joined: 11/8/2003
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I'm not the one he's worried aboot!  LOL Thumbs Up

I see the pics now...btw, they wouldn't load here because of the size. Ouch

  

Here's the skinny on the extra wires, from the GMPP specs page that includes that part number. The wires are for a ground, and an extra tach output. I would tape them both up, and tuck them out of the way somewhere. It wouldn't hurt to actually use the extra ground, tho. Thumbs Up




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Joel Adams
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Re: HEI Problem (25/29)
 6/13/14 10:18am
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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Thanks Joel for the time you spent researching this data. Answered my question and more. I'll keep you updated how the new cap and rotor does on the old distributor.
Re: HEI Problem (26/29)
 4/25/15 5:55pm
tttankerGold Member
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Peru, IN - USA

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1978 Blue Edition 2001 Torch Red


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UPDATE:  It's been ten months since  I switched to GM Delco distributor and not one "no start" conditions. Put about 4,000 miles on it from last June till now. Old blue didn't get much rest this winter. New A/C works great. Getting ready to put cruise control back on it.  I get looking at the scenery and have mopeds pass me going up a hill. Been talking to Rosta and will probably go that way. Aggravates me when a 2015 something on the interstate goes from 40 mph to 70 mph and back again every mile or so. Don't want to be that somebody on the interstate. Wife does look like a cute little bobble head when I do slow down and speed up. She doesn't think the soda straw in the nose is funny though. Thanks again for the advise.
Re: HEI Problem (27/29)
 4/26/15 10:08am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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 Thumbs Up Clap

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: HEI Problem (28/29)
 4/26/15 10:45am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

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1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


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Thumbs Up Cool man! 

Since you got old Blue running good, take 'er for cruise up to Niagara Falls for the Annual Gathering. Wink


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: HEI Problem (29/29)
 4/26/15 11:57am
danascar
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Germansville, PA - USA

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Here is an alternative if you decide to replace. Much cheaper and lifetime warranty.
 
 
I have been using their version with tach drive in my 74 for several years now and haven't had to touch it.


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DanT

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