Died a mile form the house.

My Jeep died at a light last night. There I was waiting at the light when all of a sudden nothing. It wasn't running any differently, like it was needing gas. It just died. I attempted to restart the jeep immediately but nothing. I just flooded it. A friend just happend to be behind me and helped me push the jeep out of the intersection. I poked around and 5 minutes after cursing the damn thing it started up with a cloud of smoke.
So I'd like to know why?
I recently replaced the starter (unrelated), the fuel lines, both fuel filters, the fuel pump, the ignition module. And last night I replaced the coil of my HEI. I checked all 6 plugs and they were all in good shape and none of the spark plug wires were loose.

Would a bad HEI coil cause the jeep to stall out at idle or would that only affect the initial start up?

Could I be getting too much psi from this fuel pump? Do they make regulators for these things? The 2G is getting about 5-7lbs of pressure right now. My old pump was putting out 3-5psi.

Could my timing be off? But wouldn't that affect the V6 all the time? I need to buy a timing gun. Or head down to Billy's and have him dial in my carb and timing.

Thanks for any info. Hopefully replacing the HEI coil did the trick. I'd hate to be stranded down here with Frances upon us.

 

HEI module?

 

The ignition module and coil.

 

Chile cheese fries?

 

Did it die slowly or did it die like someone turned the key to the off position? If it died immediately like someone turned the key off, 99% of the time it's an electrical/electronic problem. HEI ignition modules die out without notice usually. I think it's wise to carry a spare since they are small and you are FUBAR if you are in the middle of nowhere and it dies.

Bad module= you're walking

 

Yup, module. The one in my Yukon died when I turned the corner onto my street. Lucklly, it's slightly downhill to my house. Of course, it happened on a Friday night. Was 4 days without a car.

That's why I bought my Jeep--a spare!

 

I have to agree that it's the module too. Sometimes after they cool down a bit from sitting then it will start back up.

 

Thanks for the info but I replaced the module five days ago. I replaced the coil yesterday so I hope that's it. How long do these modules usually last? I now will carry a spare one all the time. They're relatively cheap and only take 10 minutes to drop in. I love HEI. Thanks for the offer Billy.

 

somewhat related

One of the "critters" uses a minivan engine in it. You could call it a "jeep" it is 4 wheel, anyway..... We were out goofing off and it quit exactly like you discribed. In the middle of nowhere... I don't give up so easy. Dead module, and it is in the distributer. Okay, now what?? Need something that works like breaker points. Sparked the coil and it was good, and started thinging about this pulley on there, 4 spokes and running at camshaft speed. Coincidence??? Bent a hose clamp until it touched the spokes, and stole a condenser off the alternator. Hose clamp was on a rubber hose so it was not grounded. Took a few adjustments but finally the engine would run, speed was not possible as the "point" would bounce pretty bad. It got me home, over some fairly rough wheeling. Necessity is the mother of invention, but carrying a spare module makes perfect sense to me. Add in the pickup coil, just for giggles.
-Hill

 

Yeah I think I'm going to carry both a module and a coil.

 

Really? My tach just stopped working! Hmmm. I'm going to unplug that damn thing and not run a tach right now. I wonder if that was the problem? Damn. I'm going downstairs and unplugging that thing right now.

 

Marc: Remember to put a good coating of that "module grease" or "heat sink grease" on the mounting point of the module. I've seen them fail in 2 days because of the lack of it.

DO NOT use "dialectric" grease--it's an insulator.

 

Really. I was kind of sloppy when I put that new module on. I wonder if I just junked one module by being sloppy. Damn. Well I'm now in the market for a new tach. And I guess a new module. I thought I should handle that mod carefully...

 

Marc: If you didn't put the "heat sink grease" under it, by all means do so. It will save your module.

Don't let your FLAPS give you "dialectric" grease--won't work--in fact it will make it worse.

The REAL stuff will be marked "Igintion Module Grease" or "Heat Sink Grease".

 

I actually used the grease that came with the module. Where else would I use heat sink grease? I'm thinking of buying some and cleaning up that last project.

 

Marc. If you used the grease that came with the module, you're OK. They didn't use to include it.

 

Okay.