No, I double checked that.



Well, now I don't think that was the case. I posted that right after not getting any spark at the plug, but later I wasn't getting any at the coil either.

There's something else going on, and I'm suspecting the Ignition Control Module, as it would tie into the other heat related symptom I was having. Unfortunately, I'm lucky enough to have one that is not testable, but this vehicle is sure testing my patience.

 

If it's on the driver's side, that is not a tranny cooler, but a power steering cooler.

 

Try a different autoparts store. Some they have to use aligator clips to test the ICM. Around here O'Rielly's had no clue, and AutoZone is where I got mine tested.

 

DOH !

I thought it looked kinda flimsy for a trans cooler, but I thought perhaps it was a chincy factory unit. I never owned a vehicle with a cooler for the power steering pump.

 

Called both AutoZone and Advance. They both told me the ICM on my ‘97 is one of those that cannot be tested (The part number is the same from ’96 to ’02).

True ?

 

UPDATE:

OK. I've got it to the point now where it half-starts, meaning it sorta halfway runs as you're cranking it over, but if you let go of the key it stumbles and stumbles to a stop.

Anybody experience this before ? I’ve never seen anything like it.

 

AZ tested my '00.

Did you ever notice a rotten egg smell comgin from your exhaust? If so, you mihgt have a plugged up cat.
Get that ICM tested or replace it.

 

Well, I called four Autozones, two Advances, one Advantage, two NAPAs, a Pep Boys, and two large local parts houses. They ALL told me my ICM cannot be tested. Don't know how you pulled that off, as they are both the same part number.



Never.



I’ll have to pick up a new one over the weekend.

 

I've been going into the same AutoZone for over a decade now. The guys behind the counter know their schmitt. One of em even races on the local dirt track and has AZ as a sponsor.

There isn't a connector, but they can use aligator clips to do the test.

 

Gotcha. It's not that it can't be tested, but that they don't have the connector. Well, that didn't help, as I went to several places, bringing along my own mini jumper wires, but none wanted to take the responsibility, nor would they let me do it.

UPDATE:

It started this morning. Initially, it did the same half-running as before, as long as the starter was cranking, but then it went faster and faster and eventually ran on it's own. I let it warm up for a while, and then I wanted to move it. It went about four car lengths and stalled and would not restart.

This afternoon a friend called about a referral, as the transmission went in a relative's ’98 Blazer. I told him I had just the guy for him, but I needed a wee favor. We took the ICM (heatsink and all, so we didn't have to mess with the paste) off the '98 and popped it onto my '97. No go. Wouldn't start. At least it saved me from buying an ICM.

It hit me that it was much cooler last night and this morning, which goes back to the symptoms I had before, where it ran fine all Winter, started with the intermittent cutting out when it got warmer, to not starting at all when the weather got really warm. And it started this morning when temperature had dropped substantially.

What in the world on this vehicle would be effected by the ambient air temperature ???