Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Ultimate Subaru Message Board

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

'87 GL 1.8 SPFI distributor no spark

Featured Replies

I wasn't able to find a similar question so,...  coil tests good but I'm not getting any spark at the plug. My distributor is the Hitachi with hold-down screws instead of clips and a screw in the rotor post. I can't seem to find a model # on it or an exploded view of this type. Are these rebuild-able and does anyone know where I can get a diagram?

11 hours ago, Dave67 said:

I wasn't able to find a similar question so,...  coil tests good but I'm not getting any spark at the plug. My distributor is the Hitachi with hold-down screws instead of clips and a screw in the rotor post. I can't seem to find a model # on it or an exploded view of this type. Are these rebuild-able and does anyone know where I can get a diagram?

Got spark at the coil wire?

  • Author

yes, coil tests good but no spark at the plug. I found a possible replacement for the distributor (I'm assuming the components toasted are internal being an electronic dist.) Checked grounds, fuses, etc. unless I'm missing an external module or whatnot...

If you have spark at the coil,but,not the plugs,then you have a bad distributor cap,rotor or plug wires.

  • Author

I found suitable replacements for the distributor and coil and swapped them out, it starts and runs like a different car. I believe the distributor was failing for a few years and I didn't know what it was (270k miles blurs simple diagnostics in the generalized wear), but quite a noticeable improvement. Thanks to all :)

thank you naru2, that's the monster for sure, I am glad I won't have to rebuild it though, I'm at the age my resistance to turning a wrench is much worse than the actual doing it

Edited by Dave67
didn' see posted diagram until after I'd posted thnx

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.