I was out on the trail last night and we were stopped and my truck was idling and it just died and would not restart. I am getting no spark.

Based on all the test I tried it looks like the igniter is what is the culprit. It just happens to be one of the more expensive electrical components on the car. Does anyone know how to test it before i drop $345.00 to see if that is it?

Thanks

 

The FSM has the procedure - not hard at all, but I don't remember exactly how to do it. I'll have a look at the FSM tonight.

 

i would greatly appreciate it thanks

 

any update on this?

 

The ignitor testing procedure from FSM (for '80 pickup):







As you can see there were two different types. Both types had a red wire and a white wire running to the pickup coil in the distributor. The typical model also had three wires running back towards the cab of the truck (red, yellow and black). The California model just had two yellow wires running back towards the cab instead of 3. This is from the wiring diagrams in the FSM. Assuming your 83 is the same, you should go by the wiring rather than what the ignitor looks like to determine the type (the outside case of mine looked like the California model but by the wiring was actually the typical model).

Hope this helps.

 

mine is a weird truck it has the different coil with the igniter under it

 

i will check it to those specs anyway

 

I tested and the numbers were different...but so is the coil/igniter that I have in the truck

 

I've heard of ignitors doing exactly what you described (just quit working and then you have no spark). If everything else tests ok it probably is the ignitor but like you said it would be nice to know for sure before buying a replacement. Do you know anyone with a similar truck that could lend you a working ignitor? If not I would really try to find a used one because of the price. I think I saw one for sale on E-bay recently. There are some ignitors from other Toyota vehicles from the same era that will probably work as well but the connectors for the wiring might be different (you would just need to cut and splice your old connectors on).

 

i am looking for one but i guess i am about out of options...Looks like i am gonna have to pony up the money

Thanks for all your help Scott

 

I got the new igniter..Thanks Toyota of Dallas. I went ahead and checked the resistance on both units and the number were completely different ( the coil and the igniter) so after replacing them both the truck runs better then before.

 

Glad you got it fixed!