Weird MC engine problem

[Bernard Littau]

Hi Phil,

Welcome back.

> Before I start - this car is a dog.

Bummer.

[snip]
> If you try and put any appreciable load on the car, it dies
> instantly and won't restart.  At
> this time, an attached code-pulling LED illuminates permanently.
> If you cycle the ignition,
> it comes back on with ECU power.

Well, it must restart eventually.  How long does it behave like not wanting
to start?

When it will not start, does it have spark?  It might be a shorted coil,
that kind of sort of works until the cylinder pressure goes up, whereupon it
shorts due to the increased heat load on the coil.  After it cools, it works
again.  This is, of course, a real WAG!

Have you swapped the ignition module for a known good one? (I'm assuming the
MAC-14 MC still has a separate ignition module, like the MAC-11 system)

Best,

Bernard Littau
Woodinville, WA
'88 5ktq