Can A Dummy Install a Distributor?

[Moparal]

I wish you would of posted this last month. I was in Chatum ont at Greenfield ethanol and stayed at the motel right next to the plant for a week. I would of loved to of came by and given you a few pointers and showed you how to install your distributor.  The guys have you on the right track as it is.   hang in there, you can do it

[cj]

Wow Al, does it sound stupid to say I wish my car would have quit a month ago.
We would have loved to have met you, showed you our cars and the shop we have in progress.  Get you out of that motel room and find you some Canadian food that's not so bad. 
Any chance you'll be coming back?  Sounds like you were in Sarnia recently...that's only 45 mins away.
Please let me know if you're ever in our area again, I'd love to meet you and I'm sure we could hook you up with some good 'Canadian' food.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Still... I doubt it's your distributor unless it's the pick up coil inside it.

I wish you mucho luck, and please stay in contact here and let us know what is happening. Maybe we can help you as you go.

[cj]

Still... I doubt it's your distributor unless it's the pick up coil inside it.

I wish you mucho luck, and please stay in contact here and let us know what is happening. Maybe we can help you as you go.

Thanks Mike,  I'm going to start with the coil, then the ecu, then the dist.  Think the pick up coil was the problem the last time and the guy fixed it but told me I should replace the dist.  Maybe it's just that power of suggestion that makes me think it's a problem. 
Any suggestions for other things I should be looking at?

[hooD]

Right now the car doesn't start, no spark.  Ran great one day, next day nothing.  Earlier this summer the same thing happened and the guy who worked on it got it going using a part off an old distributor and a drill?  He said I should get a new distributor.  I didn't bother cause it was running fine. 

   This is probably not your problem, but have you checked the rotor to make sure it is not fried?  If the rotor is shot you won't get any spark.

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NO-SPARK DIAGNOSIS

If the engine has no spark, check for voltage at the coil positive terminal when the ignition key is on.

If there is voltage, the problem is on the trigger side of the coil (pickup, ignition module or primary wiring circuit).

If there is NO voltage at the coil, the problem is on the supply side (the ignition switch or ignition wiring circuit).

If the coil has voltage, the problem may be a bad high voltage output wire from the coil to the distributor, hairline cracks in the coil output tower, or cracks or carbon tracks inside the distributor cap or on the rotor.

[cj]

Woo Hoo...success...put in a new ecu and she fired  right up.

Thanks so much to all who helped and took the time to explain a few things to a novice.  I learned some things and got the info stored away for next time I need it.  You guys and gals are great.

Now I've got to fix my ds mirror.  When I was testing things the other night I put down the window so I could just reach in and turn the key on and off.  Well, about half way down I met some resistance and the bezel for the mirror adjuster went flying off.  The mirror cable must have come loose and caught up in the window mech.  Fix that and I can go cruisin'

I'm still going to put in a new distributor but probably not this weekend.  The timing light I bought was just a basic one and I've decided I want a digital advance, but they had to order one in so it'll probably be a couple of days before I get it.  Think I'll just get in some last drives this weekend.

Again, thanks!