My car was running not as smooth as I'd like, so I was checking the ignition system. The cap was loose, which probably was contributing to the problem, but when I took off the pickup coil top thing? not sure what its called, but when I took that off, the magnet came off in pieces. I soon after found out that my distributer is aftermarket, with a star like pattern instead of the stock one. So I got the replacement pickup coil which came with the magnet, and when I put only the new magnet on, my car no longer runs. I bought the Duralast Pick-Up Coil DR131. I was wondering which one I should use for my distributer, or if I need to replace the pickup coil and the magnet together.

Car is Fiero GT 87'

[This message has been edited by Xenoblast (edited 10-07-2020).]

quote Originally posted by Xenoblast: So I got the replacement pickup coil which came with the magnet, and when I put only the new magnet on, my car no longer runs.

So... what's the reason why you haven't installed the pickup coil?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: So... what's the reason why you haven't installed the pickup coil?

I read that you have to take out the distributor to replace the pickup coil, and I don't think my pickup coil is bad. All I was trying to do was replace the shattered magnet, as it was in pieces, and the pieces don't make a complete circle. I couldn't find the magnet by itself online, or else I would have just bought that. My car was running decently before I took out the magnet pieces and put a different one on.

[This message has been edited by Xenoblast (edited 10-07-2020).]

quote Originally posted by Xenoblast: I read that you have to take out the distributor to replace the pickup coil...

With the factory distributor, yes. But you state you have an aftermarket one. It's probably made by Cardone. I believe the pickup coil in them can be replaced without pulling the distributor.... but maybe someone else with one of these can confirm.

I'm unfamiliar with the star-shaped magnet. I wonder if the replacement of it has altered the ignition timing somewhat?

Here's a thread about these distributors... Cardone distributors for V6

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-07-2020).]

Regardless of old/new distributor style, the magnet needs to be installed with the correct north/south polarity. Ignition timing will be all over the place if this is wrong.

Try removing the magnet, flipping it over, and re-installing. There is no clocking requirement.

With a star-type distributor, you still need to remove it from the car to remove the shaft, and hence the pickup coil.

[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 10-07-2020).]

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: With a star-type distributor, you still need to remove it from the car to remove the shaft, and hence the pickup coil.

I'm not familiar with the new style.
But in the pic it looks like the pickup coil is held on by screws.

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You still need to remove the distributor shaft to remove the pickup coil on the newer star-type distributor.

Here is a picture of a star-type distributor that's been mostly stripped:


There's a stamped steel cup with a pocket in the middle. The pickup coil is placed into the pocket, with the leads going through the openings in the stamped steel cup.

Once the pickup coil is in place, the shaft+star assembly can be inserted:


The rotor happens to be on the shaft in that photo, but the rotor can be installed towards the very end of distributor assembly.

Unless the shaft is removed, the pickup coil remains trapped beneath the star.

The fixed pole-piece with 6 inwards-pointing triangles is secured with three screws, which thread into the stamped steel cup.

The magnet lies below the fixed pole-piece; it is like the middle layer of a sandwich.

Below the magnet (i.e. the bottom bread of the sandwich) I believe there is another layer of steel, used to help guide the magnetic field lines from the magnet into the cup.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: Regardless of old/new distributor style, the magnet needs to be installed with the correct north/south polarity. Ignition timing will be all over the place if this is wrong. Try removing the magnet, flipping it over, and re-installing.

This worked. Car started up a lot smoother then before actually. Haven't taken it on drive yet, but I will soon.

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: I took it on a drive, it feels more smooth when accelerating and I can feel a little more power coming out of my car.

[This message has been edited by Xenoblast (edited 10-07-2020).]