i think i may have narrowed down my problem but i want to know the symptoms first.
can u guys tell me the the list of symptoms of a bad pickup coil and also a going bad pickup

my problems havent changed yet. the takes a few seconds longer to crank before it starts, once it does it runs but the idle very choppy as if it has a miss, and then the main problem is when i cruise at any speed below 2k r.p.m. it bucks and surges.
iv replaced EVERY sensor except for the TFI but i had that checked about a month ago and it was good

also if this helps: whenever the car is turned off or dies i hear ONE SINGLE ping coming from the distributor

 

i google some symptoms for you, but i only know how to test it on a 300zx

-It cranks but it just would not want to start
-There are time it does start and other when it dies.
-When it does fire up, idle is normal.
-If you never have changed the distributor and your car has high miles, then its probably time to change the pickup coil.
-In order to do this you WILL need to take out the distributor. Either to change the pickup coil or the entire distributor.


Make sure you have checked the following.

-turn the key ignition on and listen to your fuel pump...do you hear it come on? If you do then your fuel pump is fine. If you don't or hear it louder than usual then it may be your fuel pump.
-It could be your fuel filter....those need to be changed every 3rd or 4th oil change.
-If its not either of those two, check the spark on the spark plug wires. Turn on the car and see if you notice a spark. If you don't then you know you have an ignition problem.
-Check the ignition coil (the square looking thing that one spark plug wire goes to from the distributor cap) and take it to an auto zone for them to check it.
-If its not the ignition coil then that is when you check for the pick up coil within the distributor. My mechanic has seen many of these go out and are more likely to go out than the ignition coil. Hope this helps.


(i copied this from a website, hope it helps)

 

thanks for the reply. i found the same thing but i posted here so i could find out if i should replace it before i just got buy more stuff and find out its not the problem. and in the end waste more money. i now have triples of some sensors from buying them thinkin they were the problem lol

fuel pump is good, replaced both filters, IAC, AIC, CTS, MAF, O2's, TPS set at .98, new plugs and wires, cleaned intake and T/B, timing set at 13 degrees, FP set at 42#'s, ecu, and ignition switch

 

Thats the funny thing about coils, TFI and such. They can produce a sporadic problem that when tested results in a positive test. But still can give you problems,.. sporadically. Later 4.6 cars are notorious for the COPs causing sporadic issues. I even had a hairline crack in on of the modules on my 96 causing a misfire code but I couldnt see it and the module would test OK when I checked it. Electronics are the most frustrating portion of an engine to me. Because you can spend hours,.. sometimes days trying to chase down the root of a problem.

A bad pickup coil can cause something as minor as bad fuel economy to not working at all (Engine failure,.. no start) and everything in between. Hard starting is one of the symptoms of a bad Hall Effect sensor. Some other symptoms can be missfiring at either higher RPM or at low RPM under load, a hesitation or stumble when you step on the gas. Constant misfiring, low on power etc. My father inlaw told me once that if the plugs turn sooty for no reason its usually a problem with the coil,.. low voltage or wiring issue, arcing in the distributor cause damage to other parts inside it. In your case you could have a faulty Hall Effect sensor. The Hall effect sensor also tells the computer which injector to fire and for how long. If you probe the #1 terminal on it the test light should flash when cranking over the engine. If it doesnt,.. well the engine shouldnt be running. Other then that I dont know of any other way to test it.

Here is a good link that should help you.

SBFTech.com TFI Module/Hall Sensor Testing Procedure

Hurst

 

thanks hurst
so im goin to assume the hall effect sensor is part of the pickup?

 

goin to change the pick up and ill post back results

 

so took the distr. out today to change the pick up and come to find out the shaft bent very slightly.
so i picked one up tonight and goin to put it in tomorrow

 

ouch, that sucks but hopefully that fixes the problem.

 

yea i hope so too. i got it from a friend who said the pick up in it only had around 20k miles on so im goin to put it in and try it before i use the new one. maybe i can take it back it save me some moolla

 

i put the new distributor in and it ran alot better. but since its my car and im looking for the miss i can notice it still has a small miss still
and also when i really get on it the CEL comes on and then goes off when i get off the gas. this is craziness, EVERYTHING has now been replaced lol.

could it be egr lines? i have them out