jsk68

I had a bad coil act exactly the same way, it took a while to completely fail (a couple weeks) when it finally died it still had spark.

Khill3253

Ok, tested fuel pressure, that was good. Checked spark again last night. Had spark but it was weak. Checked again this morning and nothing. Went and bought a coil, changed it. It fired right up with good spark. Tried to start it an our later, no spark. It has to be the pickup coil which would mean i would have to pull the distributor?

Khill3253

And let me guess, I will probably need some sort of press or puller to get the thing apart to change the coil?

fltdriver

The plate on top of the pip is pressed on, it can be a PITA to get off. You should be able to find a video on youtube on how to remove it without breaking/bending the plate.

Khill3253

Do i haveto pull the distributor to get the plate off?

Khill3253

Ok, I got the distributor off, couldnt pull the plate without bending or screwing up the teeth. Knocked the drift pins out of the cam gear and the piece above it and i am having a hell of a time trying to get the cam gear off. In theory i should be able to replace the pip when i get the cam gear off and the shaft out of the housing right?

Update- aftert two hours of trying everything i could think of to get the gd cam gear off, i managed to get the thing moved about enough to cover half the drift pin hole. Then it dawns on me, when i finally get this thing off along with its bigger brother how in the h*** am i going to get the d**** thing back on and aligned with the drift pin holes? So I quit. Its kind of a d****ed if you do and d****ed if you dont situation. Should I give up on the cam gear and try the plate while risking wrecking it or do i play hell trying to get the cam gear off and back on without wrecking anything?

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Gear puller or press is the right way to take it off. Putting it back on -lined up properly for the pin is even more of a PITA. I've done it, mainly because I had the same PIP in an I6 distributor that I didn't need (they both used the same one, in 95 anyway) but looking at doing it again I would definitely be looking at the price difference between a PIP and a whole distributor.

memoniz

I never tried removing the PIP, but changing the distributor is a breeze in comparison from what I read. And you have the benefit of having replacing an old part for something new that will last longer (provided that you get a good one to start with).

I've had the 411 code for a couple of years now. And now it's joined by a 420. I have not replaced all my vacuum lines yet, but replaced various solenoids and valves in the in the EGR and Secondary air systems. What I have scanned is that the secondary air has incorrect air flow. My truck is a '96 with a 4.9. There is a part just above and left of the thermostat housing that has vacuums and I think a sensor in it (have to figure out what's it called) that might be the problem. I'll let you know if that works when I replace it.

Khill3253

I got it! A buddy and I beat the gear off with a brass hammer. It took like 10 mins today. got the new pip installed. Carefully tapped the gear back on with a piece of pipe. took like 5 mins. Installed tbe distributor. Everything seems to be working right. It has been started a dozen times and driven about four times. No problems yet. Thanks guys! Now on to the trouble code. We wil save that for a different day..