1991 Mitsubishi Ignition

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Anyone have experience with these, or know a decent forum?

1991 Mitsubishi Mighty Max 3.0 V6
Randomly dies for no reason. When it does, there's no spark. Only time you can troubleshoot it is when it decides to crap out. Ignition is powered up with engine control relay, just no sparky. With no spark we've ruled out the coil, igniter diode thingy (that fires the coil), and most every connection including the ECU.

The distributor is an optical unit with power in, ground out, and two signal wires out to the ECU. Any idea what to test for on these wires next time it's dead?

Absolutely nothing in the FSM on testing or troubleshooting the distributor.

I'm assuming it's not the ECU, mainly because my experience with them has been go-no go, not slow death. Bad assumption?

I'm open to anything, this is driving me crazy.

 

[gumbydood]

Friend's dodge 3.9 V-6 had similar problems... turned out to be the reluctor(?) inside the distributor was intermittently cutting out... which in turn shuts off spark AND fuel.

Maybe you have a similar condition?

Good luck
G'dood

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Thanks, it's looking like the ECU. Or rather, it's looking like nothing else, leaving the ECU. Bugger doesn't generate any codes other than all normal.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Hate leaving a question with no answer. Update: it was the ECU, sent it to www.autoecu.com $213 to rebuild it with a 3 year warranty. A lot better than $600 for new one.