problem with ignition module and distributor

[kromo]

can anyone pls give me some advice?!

Was driving my 1990 Holden Barina MF when the power suddenly cutout and the engine just died. Roadside mechanic said the problem was 'no spark', and the repairers say it needs a new ignition module.

It seems I can get this part second-hand or new, with or without the distributor. Just wanted some advice: I don't really know what the distributor is and does and whether it's better to get it as well as the ignition module. Also, the second-hand part is also from a 1990 Barina, so if its breakdown is an age-related thing, would I be better off getting the new part (ignition module alone or with the distributor)?

Any advice would be appreciated!

[garcon]

I'm not an expert by any means, and don't know much about the car (is the Barina a Nova in the UK?)...

I wouldn't expect the fault to be particularly age related, so I would say a used part from a similar 1990 Barina would be ok (as long as it's significantly cheaper than the new part!). I would doubt you require a distributor aswell - unless there's a fault with that too (which would be unlucky! - "no spark" could be an ignition fault or a distributor fault, but not often both...)

I'll let someone else explain exactly what a distributor is... all I know is that it routes the spark via the leads to the plugs.

[kromo]

thanks for the reply!

would you have any ideas on what might have caused the ignition module to fail in the first place?

[Dave Brand]

You should be OK with a second-hand module, unless this is a known fault on Barinas, in which case new may be the better option; it's possible that the component specification or supplier has been changed because of high failure rates.

I'm not familiar with the Barina (Corsa) but most ignition modules just screw on to the outside of the distributor - if you change the distributor, you'll have to reset the ignition timing. You existing distributor is most likely OK.

What's the distributor? It's in effect a rotary switch which passes high-tension current from the coil to each plug as required.

[kromo]

thanks garcon and dave. I might go with the new module only (without the distributor).

Happy motoring! : )

[RTH]

Its an all too common failure particually on cars of about 10 years old especially on the Bosch distributors on Ford CVH VW Golf, The Honda engine in the Rover 216 and many others. Just not designed to be robust enough in the first place. Secondhand not a good permanent solution - new roughly in the £35 to £80 price range

[Tim Falce]

I had a similar problem with an Escort with Bosch dizzy. The new module wasnt that expensive, if you fit an old one with similar fault you won't know if it is the module or not.