I have a 93 MX6 2.5L. It just started cutting out intermittantly. The tach drops to zero as if I've lost the spark. Sometimes it will start and then stalls out. And sometimes I can get it running and drive for 20 or 30 miles or let it idle for 15 or 20 minutes and I can't get it to stall out. The spark seems solid when I check it, but then it is usually running fine. I'm looking for some other insight before dumping a fortune on an ignition module. I checked the electrical connections, thinking something is loose but haven't found anything. Any ideas? [:@]

 

i know you dont want to hear it, but it does sound like th ICM.

 

Well that's what I thought I'd hear. I did the static tests on the coil and they were outside the spec range in ohms. Primary measurment was 1.2 ohms vs. a spec of 0.58 to 0.86 ohms. Secondary measurment was 19.8k ohms vs. 11.5k to 18.5k. It may be heat related failure. Accorinding to the Maxda Service Manual its a straight up distrubotor replacement. The crankshaft position sensor measurement was right on at 550 ohms.

The disturbutor also has a little oil leaking in. I guess I might leak a little with 100k miles. I found a complete brand new distributor w/ ICM, Coil, Rotor, and Cap for $162 at RockAuto.com, which was cheaper than I could find just the ICM or even the coil. Prices jumped all over on just the ICM from $175 to $350. I won't get to install it until next weekend, but I'll let you know after some run time.

 

Rockauto.Com came through. The disty was complete including ICM at $162 including shipping. I put 40 miles on the car this afternoon and had no problems. Need some more miles just to be sure, since this was intermittent.

 

Have a friend with a 94 mx6. Car was running and just cut off. Right now car will turn over but it won't start. Replaced the distributor and rotor as a shot in the dark with no luck. Sounds like it could be reminiscient of your ICM problem. The car just doesn't seem to be getting any spark at all...! No smoke, exhaust fume or anything. What do you think?

 

DDG51 - did the new distributor have the ICM in it? If not you may want to try that. Most distributors have the ICM in them, but it depends on how you purchased it. If you have a meter try the tests I did above in the sting to check the ICM. You'll need to do some spark check test to see if the ignition system is working. Check for spark.

 

another common thing, especially on the ls (v6) models if the cps (crank position sensor), down by the crank pulley, if it goes out you will not get any spark at all anywhere.