- 1). Remove the air cleaner from the throttle body by turning the wing nut counterclockwise. Remove the distributor cap by turning the lock screws on the side of the cover with the screwdriver. Lift the cap off and lay it in front of the distributor base. Inspect the rotor for arcing marks or cracking. Check the distributor cap for arcing marks (white powder) at the terminals. Examine the terminals closely for wear and the cap for internal cracks. Replace both if any irregularities are found.
- 2). Check to see if the ignition control module is operating. Connect the voltmeter's black lead to a good ground on the engine and probe the second wire from the right (white with a purple stripe) while a helper cranks the engine. The voltmeter should show voltage spikes. The voltmeter will show five volts followed by zero and continue in a duty cycle. If no voltage spikes are witnessed, the ignition control module is bad. This is the most common problem with this particular vehicle. This wire conducts the signal from the ICM (ignition control module) to the PCM. When the PCM receives this signal it sends back a timing command on the far right wire (white) for timing control. If it showed good, continue to the next step.
- 3). Check the coil next. Pull the two wires off the coil: the positive wire on one side and the negative on the other. Place the voltmeter in the ohms mode. Attach the black ohmmeter lead to the coil-mounting bracket and probe the positive terminal on the coil. The reading should be infinite or no continuity. Probe the negative terminal and the reading should show less than one ohm. Move the black ohmmeter lead to the negative terminal on the coil and probe the coil tower with the red lead. The reading should be between 3,000 to 6,000 ohms. If the reading is anything other than described, replace the coil.
- 4). Check the coil primary wire by pulling the wire out of the distributor and the coil tower. Check the wire by touching the ohmmeter leads to both ends of the wire. There should be continuity. Replace the wire if it has infinite resistance.
- 5). Check each spark plug wire if the engine runs but misses. Pull a spark plug wire off one of the plugs. Insert the spare spark plug into the end of the wire. Lay it on the engine for a good ground. Start the engine and watch the spark. If it is irregular or there is no spark, the wire is bad.
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