After 2 icms and endless sessions of the car dying I've decided I want to remotely mount my icm somewhere where it won't get so much heat soak. I've tried using washers to space it and it worked for a few months. I was wondering if anyone has mounted it somewhere else in the engine compartment and what was involved. See signature for mods. It doesn't throw any codes and my entire ignition system has less than 500 miles on it.

 

Jon are you sure it's heat soaking and dying from that? Because a lot of people here have spaced those things out a little bit and been running them for 15 years or so. But to answer your question about moving it, it should be doable. If I were in your situation, I swould have a good look at the wires and connector and also coil connection wires to make sure something else isn't getting you. Do you have a stock ignition and coil?

 

Heatsoak can't logically be the problem, nobody else is having this issue.

 

I have a stock Delco opti, taylor wires, NGK plugs, MSD Coil, Stock ICM.
I'll check some stuff over the weekend and test the wires. I'll also try to recreate the symptoms and test. I did check all of the plugs and there is no fouling.

So this is what happens, it drives for about 5-6 minutes then it backfires and almost immediately it dies. After it cools for about 45 min it restarts and is good for 5-7 minutes again. It doesn't throw any codes.

 

If you want to troubleshoot a potential heat failure problem, you can always use a heat gun or cold spray (or air nozzle) on the device and see if you can induce a failure or recovery, that way you might be able to localize the problem area.

 

Are you using the white heat transfer grease behind it? It'll die a quick death without it.

 

That proper heat transfer grease is very important.

 

I'm having same issue. 100% stock.

Once car gets to normal temp it'll go to ****. It sputters but hasn't died.

 

It could be the ICM, but a bad coil can also run good cold and break up when hot.

 

That's exactly what mine did - popped the 10A fuse every time. I tried bringing a handfull of them with me once, and once it died it was done. Mine would only make it a few miles and once the motor got good and heat-soaked that fuse would pop and I'd be dead in the water. Got towed home TWICE in the same day.

I dissected the ignition schematic extensively and everything pointed to the ICM. There really isn't a good way to test them. So I caved in, spent the $80, replaced it and the problem never came back.

 

i agree with the guys above the heat sink compound is very important. i learned the hard way.

 

Crap. I can't remember if I added the grease. I wanna say I did, but maybe I didn't. I'll look when its light out. It kind of looks like dielectric grease right? I vaguely remember this...did it 8 months ago.
I'll also use a heat gun to create heat soak and go from there. Had so many issues with this car I just want to actually enjoy it finally after doing all this work on it.

 

Ok,

So I did put the goop on it. Rechecked all my wires got it to die after 5 min 20 sec. Started up 45 min later lasted about 4 min. I am finishing grad school so I don't have a ton of time at the moment to do intensive work, but I can in a few weeks.

 

Mounted it on the wheel well next to the fuse box. Problem is solved. Runs great and I can touch it after running for 30 min and its cool.

 

Got any pics, or tips for the install or move? These kinds of things help others down the road Glad you got her fixed!