no spark on HEI

G

gworobec

New member
Dec 28, 2005
1,736
0
0
Hi folks,
Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark. Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I’m leaning towards the ignition module, however no spare. I’m not on the road so no problems there. I’m not sure if Dick Paterson’s modules are special or just stock GM parts. If not I’ll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email. Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on the starter and away it goes.

thanks for any insights.

Gary Worobec
73 Glacier 455
 
> Hi folks,
> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark. Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I'm leaning towards the
> ignition module, however no spare. I'm not on the road so no problems there. I'm not sure if Dick Paterson's modules are special or just stock GM
> parts. If not I'll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email. Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on
> the starter and away it goes.
>
> thanks for any insights.
>
> Gary Worobec
> 73 Glacier 455
>
> Gary,
>
> The thing I know that I know only from listening to Dick is that he only buys the Delco part and still has to make sure it is not CCV in a
> look-alike box.
>
> Matt
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
> Hi folks,
> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark. Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I'm leaning towards the
> ignition module, however no spare. I'm not on the road so no problems there. I'm not sure if Dick Paterson's modules are special or just stock GM
> parts. If not I'll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email. Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on
> the starter and away it goes.
>
> thanks for any insights.
>
>
>
> Gary Worobec
> 73 Glacier 455
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

I had a Dick Paterson module go out in my coach. It was about a year old. I replaced it along the road with an old one from the old distributor, and
later with one from O'Reilly's. No problem with the one from O'Reilley's (I think it was a BWD brand). The MSD system I put on it a year or so later
eliminated the HEI module.

--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
> Hi folks,
> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark. Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I'm leaning towards the
> ignition module, however no spare. I'm not on the road so no problems there. I'm not sure if Dick Paterson's modules are special or just stock GM
> parts. If not I'll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email. Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on
> the starter and away it goes.

Gary,

The module would be the first thing to try. Any module from the parts store should work OK. I have seen some aftermarket modules (other than AC
Delco) not work properly for limp home but would work under normal conditions. Modules that DickP uses are not immune from having problems. Keeping a
spare module is necessary in my opinion. If the module doesn't resolve the issue, then possibly the coil.

--
Randy & Margie
'77 Eleganza II '403'
Battlefield, MO
 
Thanks Randy and guys, I’ll post when i find the issue.

GW

>

>> Hi folks,
>> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark. Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
>> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I'm leaning towards the
>> ignition module, however no spare. I'm not on the road so no problems there. I'm not sure if Dick Paterson's modules are special or just stock GM
>> parts. If not I'll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email. Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
>> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on
>> the starter and away it goes.
>
> Gary,
>
> The module would be the first thing to try. Any module from the parts store should work OK. I have seen some aftermarket modules (other than AC
> Delco) not work properly for limp home but would work under normal conditions. Modules that DickP uses are not immune from having problems. Keeping a
> spare module is necessary in my opinion. If the module doesn't resolve the issue, then possibly the coil.
>
> --
> Randy & Margie
> '77 Eleganza II '403'
> Battlefield, MO
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

Gary Worobec
garytwmw
(o) 951-763-0518
(cell) 773-230-6226
 
Gary,

What I haven't heard is what type of Patterson distributor you have. If
it's controlled by the EFI/EBL, then it's certainly one with a 7-pin OEM
type HEI. If it's NOT controlled by the EFI's ECM, then it may be the
original '73 points-type upgraded by Dick P. with a Pertronix 1181 kit.
Or, it may be a non-computer-controlled HEI with a 5-pin module. There may
even be other configurations with which I'm not familiar.

You've got to determine which of those you have before searching for a test
replacement.

Ken H.

> Hi folks,
> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark.
> Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the
> Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I’m leaning towards the
> ignition module, however no spare. I’m not on the road so no problems
> there. I’m not sure if Dick Paterson’s modules are special or just stock GM
> parts. If not I’ll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email.
> Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor
> has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on the
> starter and away it goes.
>
> thanks for any insights.
>
>
>
> Gary Worobec
> 73 Glacier 455
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Ken, It's the seven pin module. The distributor is controlled by the EBL. I got rid of the Paterson Pertronics when I installed the Howell Efi

Thanks,
Gary Worobec

>
> Gary,
>
> What I haven't heard is what type of Patterson distributor you have. If
> it's controlled by the EFI/EBL, then it's certainly one with a 7-pin OEM
> type HEI. If it's NOT controlled by the EFI's ECM, then it may be the
> original '73 points-type upgraded by Dick P. with a Pertronix 1181 kit.
> Or, it may be a non-computer-controlled HEI with a 5-pin module. There may
> even be other configurations with which I'm not familiar.
>
> You've got to determine which of those you have before searching for a test
> replacement.
>
> Ken H.
>
>

>>
>> Hi folks,
>> Tried to fire up the coach this morning and lots of gas, no spark.
>> Admittedly I have not run it for a couple of months now. 455 with Howell
>> EFI/EBL and a Paterson HEI distributor. All the fuses are good in the
>> Howell and no obvious wiring damage from rodents. I’m leaning towards the
>> ignition module, however no spare. I’m not on the road so no problems
>> there. I’m not sure if Dick Paterson’s modules are special or just stock GM
>> parts. If not I’ll get one from NAPA tomorrow. I did send him an email.
>> Does anyone know if you can run a diagnostic off of the EBL and the laptop
>> to narrow the issue down. In near 12 years this is the first time the motor
>> has not fired up with the EFI/HEI setup. Usually a couple of seconds on the
>> starter and away it goes.
>>
>> thanks for any insights.
>>
>>
>>
>> Gary Worobec
>> 73 Glacier 455
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Good. You know what you're working with. I just hadn't understood that.

Ken H.

> Ken, It's the seven pin module. The distributor is controlled by the EBL.
> I got rid of the Paterson Pertronics when I installed the Howell Efi
>
 
An item on the HEI distributor that will leave you with no spark is the pickup coil. It is the circular 8 pointed "ring" that slips over the
distributor shaft and resides beneath the centrifugal advance weights and screws to the advance plate. It's job is to time each cylinder firing by
sending a pulse as the distributor shaft passes each "point" on the coil. It has two bare wires that connect it to the module and the wires flex as
the advance plate moves back and forth. The wires will ultimately fatigue and break, providing no timing signal and no spark.
You can reach the wires with the cap off. You can tug lightly with 2 fingers. If one is disconected that is your problem. If one comes loose in
your hand then you found it before it was going to break and strand you. You must remove the distributor to change the pickup coil. You'll need to
use a punch to push out the roll pin that holds the distributor gear to the shaft. Lift the shaft out and swap out the coil.
I carry a spare ignition module, ignition coil and pickup coil in my GMC at all times.
--
Chris Geils - Twin Cities
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; Headers, Progressive Dynamics 9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, 50k mi
 
I use a 7-pin module in our Accel Gen 6 MPFI and I have had a failure about 3 years ago, and I also went with a remote coil setup. The remote coil article will be in the next GMCMI newsletter.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/general-pictures/p63684-7-pin-modules.html

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> Good. You know what you're working with. I just hadn't understood that.
>
> Ken H.
>

>
>> Ken, It's the seven pin module. The distributor is controlled by the EBL.
>> I got rid of the Paterson Pertronics when I installed the Howell Efi
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Dick’s response. What a guy!! Sunday night even. i’ll report back.

> Gary any module will prove it out ---if you want a specific one ask for a 1975-6-7
> chev 350 for a Camaro -corvette or HD police package.
>
> First-----Look carefully at the 3 wire black plug where the harness plugs into the cap---be sure there are is no brass visible outside the bottom of the plug----verify the 12 volts at the red BATT wire connection.
> Let me know your 'finding' ------------regards dick

>
> I use a 7-pin module in our Accel Gen 6 MPFI and I have had a failure about 3 years ago, and I also went with a remote coil setup. The remote coil article will be in the next GMCMI newsletter.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/general-pictures/p63684-7-pin-modules.html
>
> JR Wright
> GMC Great Laker MHC
> GMC Eastern States Charter Member
> GMCGL Tech Editor
> GMCMI
> 78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
> 1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
> Michigan
>
>

>>
>> Good. You know what you're working with. I just hadn't understood that.
>>
>> Ken H.
>>

>>
>>> Ken, It's the seven pin module. The distributor is controlled by the EBL.
>>> I got rid of the Paterson Pertronics when I installed the Howell Efi
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

Gary Worobec
garytwmw
(o) 951-763-0518
(cell) 773-230-6226
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally
Applied GMC

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back