Was driving down the road yesterday at 55 mph and for about 5 seconds I lost power but started going again. Today I pulled up to a stop sign and the truck just died, cranked it over and no start, no spark coming out of the coil wire. Was gettin ready to jump in with a neighbor after about 10 minutes,tried it 1 more time and it started up.Got home no problem, obviously got spark now.Where should I begin? Its a 1989 3.0 liter, A.T.,190k. Thanks METALMOVER

First, remove the ecu and take off the cover and look for corrosion on the traces from a leaking capacitor. If that's fine, get some electrical contact cleaner and remove the plug from the power transisitor (small square black thing on the coil bracket) and spray the connector and cycle it on and off several times. Repeat with the coil connector.

Will do, the ecu is under the dash on the passenger side correct? Thanks!!!! Hows the Rex coming? Back soar yet. MM

Yup, under the glove box with a metal cover over it.

Just posted a Rex update. Back is fine. Hands are sore. I miss my Rigid 18v impact tool.

The brick left me stranded, didnt have time to do what you told me, well I checked the coil wires while waiting for my wife to come get me, how redneck are you when you have 2 trucks for your dogs?MM

Signs point to ecu. Intermittent failure followed by total loss of spark.

I've had 3 dog rides at once before. A WGSD needed a lot of room, too. Couldn't put the top up on the Fiat with her in there.

Ok, pulled the ecu this morning, opened it up and couldnt see any corosion on the board or anywhere, no fishy smells, am I suppose to take the 4 screws off the top on the circuit board and look? I did notice some green corosion on the plugs themselves, like turquise green in color, mostly on the middle plug,what do you think next? MM Oh n by the way happy easter and or 4-20

Soak the plug in vinger...And look at the TPS plug too they can die ... Bad Dizzy...? Maybe..?

Ill try cleaning the contacts after dinner, soak the female plug in vinegar? Havent heard that before, the acid in the vinegar cleans it?

Disclaimer ....,...........

As a mechanic as the day job.. I'm "Captain Gear Box" ...Stick trans, rear-end, HP motors and HP suspension so on and so on ..Electeral is not my best , better then most ..But still...

But....

A good friend is "Mr Wizard" on the car voltage DC electrical thingy... And any POS old car that has a plug that is "growing" as he puts it.. In white vinager... Something about getting the wire clean at the 'wire' and 'up the wire'..'I'm a mechanic,, he knows more about Ele then me LOL.. I just shut up and do as he says .. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.. I need to ask the whole science on it and all... Give the ECU male plugs a little twist too ...A little I said ... The ONE thing EVERY Mitsu ever made needs a 'wiring harness' tune up ...But know one wants to ever do it ... Really makes one's world better ....