How to replace the pick - up coil under the distributor

Do you have fuel, is your fuel pump working. If you do not have any spark at all, have you been able to check to see if you have power to your distributor. If so and you do have some then it might be either your ignition coil, pick up coil or your ignition control module. Your pick up coil in in your distributor under the plate. The coil is on top of the distributor cap. The ignition module is right under the cap where all your distributor wires connect to. Some part houses can test your ignition module and let you know if good or bad. Good luck.

The distributor does have to be removed and dis-assembled in order to replace the ignition pick-up coil/stator, and if the pick-up coil/stator is faulty then the distributor should be replaced because the distributor will come with a new pick-up coil/stator and the old distributor will have to be removed anyway and in the long run it will actually save money from not having to pay a mechanic to remove and dis-assemble the distributor to replace the pick-up coil/stator, however most of the time it is the ignition module inside of the distributor that is faulty.




When the engine is at TDC (Top Dead Center) is the ignition rotor pointing to the #1 position on the distributor housing as described below?



The engine should be set on TDC (Top Dead Center) with the distributor cap removed, and there is a mark or notch on the distributor housing that the rotor should be pointing to when the engine is on top dead center. (Look under the distributor cap and find where the number one terminal runs under the distributor cap, and where that position on the distributor cap corresponds with the distributor housing, and it should match up to a mark or a notch on the distributor housing)

This static timing is all that matters and the computer will be able to control the timing as long as the ignition rotor is in that position when the engine is at top dead center.



If the engine is at TDC and the ignition rotor does not point to the #1 mark on the distributor housing, then loosen the hold down bolt to the distributor and turn the distributor until the rotor is pointing to the #1 mark on the distributor and then tighten the distributor hold down bolt.

Hello i can assist you. Hello your ignition module will cause a no spark you find your module under your distributor cap.You will see two wires go into your distributor shaft these will connect to your pick up distributor module.To remove and replace this part you will need to unscrew the distributor cap lift off and remove retaining screws on the module once you have removed this replace it with your new module reinstall your distributor cap and start.

The pick up coil is located at the base of the distributor and plugs into the ignition module. The pick up coil's purpose is to sense or "pick up" the pulses of the distributor and tell the ignition module when to fire the spark plugs. The most critical part of the replacement of the pick up coil is to make certain you properly mark the orientation of the distributor to the engine block and the rotor to the distributor base. When you successfully make these markings, you will not need to check your timing when this job is finished. Keeping this in mind, here we go: You will need to purchase a replacement pickup coil and a rubber o-ring gasket that will replace the o-ring located where the distributor shaft enters the engine before you start this project.

he pick-up coil/stator assembly is located under the distributor cap, and once the distributor cap is removed from the distributor, just remove the ignition rotor, and then simply un-plug the wire connector to the the pick-up coil/stator and then lift it straight up and away from the distributor, and when re-installing the pick-up coil/stator be sure to align the square tab and the rounded tab on the pick-up coil/stator to match with the distributor housing and with the distributor cap and install the ignition rotor and the distributor cap, and then re-connect the wire connector to the pick-up coil/stator.

The pick-up coil/stator is easily replaced in a dodge distributor, and once you have removed the distributor cap and the ignition rotor, then just dis-connect the wire connector from the pick-up coil/stator and lift it straight up and out of the distributor, and the distributor does not have to be removed or dis-assembled to replace the pick-up coil/stator. There are two alignment tabs on the pick-up coil/stator that will match up with the distributor cap when the pick-up coil/stator is properly installed. Here are two images to help assist you.

Check under the distributor cap and look at the connector where the ignition module connects to the pick-up coil/stator, and if it is dark or burnt looking then replace the pick-up coil/stator or the entire distributor. Here is an image of the ignition pick-up coil/stator and you will notice the white connector, and when that connector becomes dark or burnt looking then the pick-up coil/stator is faulty.

While you was replacing the distributor did you look at the pick-up coil and module inside the distributor?? If not then either one of those two things will keep an engine from starting. The crankshaft position sensor mounted on the bellhousing will also cause the problem. To check the pick-up coil in the distributor with an ohm meter;remove the dist.cap and hook up one side of ohm meter to a good ground, and the other lead to the pick-up coil terminals Flex the leads by hand to check for intermittrnt openings. The ohm metershould indicate infinitr resistance. If it does not the the pick-up coil is bad and needs to be replaced. Connect both leads from the ohm meter to both terminals of the pick-up coil and flex the leads> the ohm meater should hold a steady value between 500-1500 ohms. If not then replace it. If it does replace the module under the coil in the dist. base. Hope this will help you.

Sound like you have a bad distributor pick up assembly, the distributor assembly pick up coil is what breaks down the voltage at ignition coil to give it spark, distributor will need to come out to replace pick up coil, mark your distributor rotor so when reinstalling you install at same position.

Replace your distributor pick up coil, sit in distributor just under dist. rotor.That's what send signal to ignition coil.