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13 bad ignition modules

Loyalpoke

Loyalpoke

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Stillwater
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ok
I have an older friend (doesn't use the internet) with a '77 CJ7 304 that needs to replace the ignition module. He swore that O'Reilly's ordered 12 in a row for him that tested bad in the store. I went to Napa and ordered the part for him and sure enough it tested bad in the store too. My thought was that O'Reilly's had a bad batch from the manufacture, it was Standard Ingnition products. But the one from Napa is an Echlin made. I'm hesitant to try to buy one for him online because of the hassle to return it if I need to.
Any ideas what is going on?
 
We tested them all the time at the NAPA I worked at. That was back in the late 80's so it was current technology.
 
Well the 14th one was bad too. It was from Autoparts+. They supposedly tested it, said it was good, before they called to tell me it was in. When I went to pick it up I asked them to test it again... and it failed. They let me go ahead and take it, said I could bring it back. The old one still functions ( but is melting and leaking the poured insulating filler, which I assume means there is a short in it, thus my need to replace it) so I made sure it started, them plugged in the new one and it didn't do anything. It is bad too, confirmed.
This is nuts! I wonder if all these distributers, Echlin, Standard, BMD, etc that supply the parts stores get the module form the same source. They all look exactly alike. Maybe there was a bad batch. I am hesitant to order anything online, and get my money back if it doesn't work.
 
Besides Jeep, is there a donor vehicle I could rob one from?
 
Isn't it a motorcraft module? Some kind of Ford I think. I think the color of the seal that the wires go into differentiates them from applications to application(cylinder wise maybe)?
 
I wonder if you might have a problem with your Jeep's wiring that is causing the modules to malfunction :shrug:
 
If its a motorcraft style one then i believe its the same module for 4,6 and 8 cylinders.
Does it look like this?

001.jpg
 
Sounds like someone local might be abusing the lifetime warranty and things weren't restocked properly. I know it's not uncommon for those spark modules to go bad or even be bad out of the box (dealt with them in my '78 Bronco until I got fed up and did an HEI dizzy), but most deaths were generally of old age, heat, or a bad circuit in the rig. Seems very unlikely for that many to be legitimately bad right out of the box. But who knows... Back to how they are testing them though; how ARE they testing them?
 
I watched them do it at parts+ and the had a meter that had multiple plugs to fit many applications. They plugged it in and turned it on. I know that is an elementary answer, but that is all I know. Regardless, we tried a few from O'rielly's, plugged them in the jeep and they didn't work, as I did they last one from parts +. They didn't trust their meter either, it failed in the vehicle. Napa trusted their tester and wouldn't let the part out of the store.
 
Dave, the ones I have gotten are all similarly shaped to the motorcraft, but they all are painted gold. I hope that answers your question. The plugs look different though.
 
Spieg, I'm willing to try anything at this point. But that is testers from three different stores.
 
Dave, it does look like this in terms of the shape and probably the dimensions. There is a three prong plug and a single plug to it.
 
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