heres teh story.. 2 weeks ago.. driving around town my truck would not start every now and then.. i would go out and wiggle the wire going from the coil to distributer... then last week it stalled and would not start anymore.. so i thought it was the coil.. got the coil.. still didnt start.. then i got a distributer cap, rotor, and still no start.. so i picked up a used igniter off ebay.. and it started up first thing... then after about 1-2 minutes when i was closing the hood.. the truck shut down.. so i am back at square 1.. any advice??? i ripped apart the harness a lil and noticed 1 wire was spliced going to the coil and igniter.. anything will help. thanks guys

1991 toyota p/u, 3.0, 4x4

At square 2, if your truck died as the hood was slamming down, take a mmc and check if all your wirings are securely attached to their proper place. Sounds like a loose connection somewhere.

have we checked the signal generator (pickup coil) inside the distributor yet, they will produce those symptoms when
they start to fail. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" />

happened to me, after i got done with a timing chain replacement. the signal generator wire from the dist to the ignitor broke at the connector. it wont start or run without a signal from the distributor. id check the continuity on both those wires, and the signal generator itself(look in FSM)

k i will check this out 2maro... but its weird cuz it wasnt running.. then i put the new ebay igniter in.. and then it started first try... then when closing the hood. it shut off.. very weird....

Not weird at all if a wire has broken at a connector, but the insulation is keeping it close enough to the connector to make occasional contact.

Evey time you move it, it reconnects (poorly, of course) & everything works. One wrong vibration & it separates. Not super common, but it is known to happen.

Dave

i took some of the plastic shielding off and noticed 1 wire spliced that went into the coil and igniter.. any one know if that is correct?> i will prolly have a pic later . thanks guy any help guys.. it means alot. since its been 2 weeks already.. now i have no choice other then getting another car to drive.. this truck has never failed me.. only small minor things.. i am very sad

Philly, if it's shutting off when you close the hood, check the harness that runs across the core support to see if there's any chaffing there. The B+ wire to your alternator goes thru the little black box on the driver's fender, and across the core support to your fuse block (IIRC).

Also make SURE your battery terminals aren't touching the hood when you close it; almost sounds like you're shorting to ground when you close 'er up.

Good luck!

Have you put an ohm meter across the connector for the pickup coil yet?
For 87 it should be between 140-180 ohms.
Also check your air gap adjustment

Dave