stall/ignition issue

Initial issue was that my 76 cj5 (258) would suddenly stall. Not always when hot. It would start back up, go a ways and die. Would not sputter like a fuel problem. Lights and all other electrical items would still work fine. I changed the coil, fuel pump, and am now attempting to change the ignition modual locaed on the fender. Problem is, it will not run with the new module. It's identical to the old one which runs fine (until it stalls). I took the first one back thinking it was defective. The second one does the same thing. Very rough idle and will die with a little gas. I placed the old one back in and started right up and ran great. The old one looks original. Not sure why it will not run with the new....

 

Did you take the original to the placwe where you purchased the new one and have it tested? If it is a heat related problem after they they should test the unit multiple times and that will show if it falis when hot. Also look at the leads I have seen the wires be the correct colors but not to the correct pins. (Don't ask found this one the hard way)R)

 

or could simply be a bad module.

 

x2 on bad module

 

Brother had the same problem with his 76 258. It was the little wire that went to the dist. pickup, It would heat up and seperate.

Andrew

 

sounds like the module.

look into converting to an HEI system. just about the same price as throwing money away by replacing the module and anything else in the garbage prestolite ignition system.

can basically be converted for less than $150.00

need an HEI distributor (got mine from a chevy 250-equipped donor), should get a new cap, and plug wires for an 80's drof 300 inline. you can reuse the your amc 258 distributor gear, but you need to modify it slightly. that's it. get rid of the module, coil and bid distributor, and run a single wire to the hei dizzy.

 

Great suggestions. Thank you. I thought it may have been the module as well but I cannot seeme to get it runnign with the new one. I realize they could have given me two bad ones in two days but the odds...Well maybe the odds are not all that bad.

 

I am having the EXACT same problem with my 76 cj5. I am on my second ignition module, and it does not work either. I put the old one back in and it starts right up. I also looked up recalls from that time period. There is a reacall out and it states that the problem is ingition wiring not being of size to carry the voltage needed to maintain spark. But I cant find out what wire (s). I have changed the ignition switch, module, cap, coil, points. I am hoping someone out there has had this problem and knew how to fix it.

 

The connector from the module to the reluctor coil (in the distributor) can be troublesome. Make sure it is clean and use a little contact cleaner. In the day, the fix was to cut out the connector and solder the wires together. The pickup coil in the distributor (reluctor coil) can also be intermittant.

I would not put a lot of time and effort into a Prestolite ignition system. They work fine when they work, but are well know to be troublesome, and the troubles come and go. That said, both my Jeeps still use the Prestolite igition, and they always start and run, though the day will come when they won't.

The HEI distributor from a 250 Chevy works well for a 232 or 258. It will drop in with a drive gear swap. The Motorcraft Duraspark system from a '78 or later Jeep is another alternative, either with its module or with a HEI module. You can buy the Motorcraft distributor across the parts counter.