By cartner on Monday, December 03, 2001 - 11:31 pm: Edit

Ok, I replaced the potentiometer, and cleaned the MAF and IAC, so those are good. My truck keeps on sounding like its missing a beat when I'm driving at any speed. Like a little tiny misfire, and a semi-stall while i'm driving. Its unnerving, and I don't trust it off road unless I get this fixed. Its driving me crazy. fuel filter was changed last week, good pressure, and the electrical charging system is doing perfect. I was thinking spark plug wires or the distributor cap is worn, but that seems like it would be a constant, and not intermittant problem and happen at idle. I'm stumped. help? again?

By Tate (Tate) on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 11:01 am: Edit

What about the VSS, Vehicle Speed Sensor in the transfer case? Just an idea. If it were a misfire, wouldn't you probably have a "check engine" light on?

By cartner on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 11:32 am: Edit

no check engine light. VSS could be it, I DID grease the leads to that, but its like a single cylinder is misfiring. very odd. I think its a single spark issue. its a V8i and I think its an intermittant arcing of one of the wires. I'll have a look...

By Matt on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 12:27 pm: Edit

I had a similar problem, except it sounds like mine was more severe. I would get a semi stall, then some shuddering, mostly at ~70 mph. Put in Magnecore wires and it went away. I don't know how much sense it makes, but it worked.

By cartner on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 04:01 pm: Edit

I think I just need to do an ignition tuneup.
I think if I change the cap, wires, and stuff like that, It should be fine. It seems to me like a slightly missed spark or an arcing wire and that perhaps on rough roads and when heated the insulation expands or something or rubs and thats why its intermittant. I'll try sometime this month to do that when I go home and get over to the dealer.

By cartner on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 07:01 pm: Edit

what do you guys think? THis is one problem I"m stumped on.

By JB on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 07:43 pm: Edit

Dont know your year or model but -
Heat affects the distributor module if you have one on the side of the dist. you can relocate or replace if need be. Check for arc with mist bottle at night in dark ventilated area. Replace plug wires and rotor arm and cap if it has some miles on it - could be break inside the wire/ on the connector. Careful if removing dist. rotor arm, just yanking it up and off can mess up breaker contacts below. It can be crushed off with grips if its on too tight. MAKE SURE PLUGS ARE SNUG, they can work themselves out too. good luck and keep us posted

By cartner on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 09:50 pm: Edit

Its a 94 D1, white. I was thinking the distributor actually...it is awfully hot on the wires, and the cap...HEAT + VIbration = breakdown of material and stress. Lots of heat. lots of vibration. Thanks for the tips. I"ll just go ahead and do the whole 9 yards of it. How much would wires, cap, rotor arm, cost from the dealer? from RN or AB?