1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

[rwise]

My girl has one of these old cars and just loves it. She has not had any problems with it until now. She went out to start it and it just cranked but would not start. I went out and checked it for fire and it was not firing. Removed the distributor cap and it was dirty. Scraped it and the roter, put it back together and it fired up. Got new cap and bug and replaced them. Two days later the same thing, would not start, no fire. Removed all the parts from the inside of the distributor, looked them over, put them back, it started right up. About a week later, she called and it is doing the same thing again, only this time I could not get it to talk! I cannot find a manual on this car, I think it may be made by mazda but I am not certain. Anybody got some tips for me here, I would just replace the ignition module but it is $200 so I want to be certain its bad! HELP!<br />Thanx Richard

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Try a wiggle test, sounds like there may be a bad connection or broken harness wire that made a temporary connection when you removed & installed the distributor parts. With your girlfriend cranking the engine wiggle the module to distributor harness at and near the distributor and see if it will fire or cough even a little bit, This is just a guess from 1000 miles away,,,,,,,but cheaper than a new module.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

The car is identical to a Mazda 323.

 

[rwise]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Thanx for the info, I have tried wigling and reseating every connection I can find! I'll look into the mazda 323 manual! Even ford said they could not get a manual. The library has manuals for 89 - 93, probably not much help.<br /><br />PS girl = daughter

 

[DJ]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Should be no difference between 88 and 89.

 

[rwise]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Thanx DJ, that should help me help her! It has been verry good for her. If it does need the part she will gladly buy it. She runs the wheels off that thing and puts a little gas in it every 2 weeks or so.<br />Richard

 

[rwise]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Put the replacement distributor ($25) in it last night, fired right up, set the timing to run good. Still have not found a manual on it. Would anyone have timing specs?<br />Thanx Richard

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Originally posted by rwise:<br />Put the replacement distributor ($25) in it last night, fired right up,

I'm glad you fixed it rwise, but;<br /><br />???What's missing here? How'd you get from a $200.00 ignition module to a " the replacement Distributor"?

 

[rwise]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

Boomyal<br />Had her call around to the salvages, and she found 2, one close to us for $65 and one for $25 and an hour trip each way. Call me cheap but we went for the $25 part. Much better than $200 for the "new" module! Oh, the module is inside the distributor. It's been running perfect, just had to guess the timing!<br />Richard

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1988 mercury tracer igniton problem

GoodO, rwise. Maybe you better scoop up another one, just in case. Was that a Napa price or a dealer price for the module?