I have a 1994 1.6 SI with an automatic trans. For a long while and about once every 50 + times the car would suddenly run rough and stall. Then there would be a crank no start condition. After several attempts I wait 5 minutes, the car then starts and runs fine. Happens only once in a great while. Then recently the A/C developed a problem were it would run the compressor un-commanded and blow out the refrigerant in a giant cloud. Long story short after changing all sorts on AC components we find the ECM is the culprit. An ECM repair guy tells me the capacitors were toast and leaked out. He fixes it....we install and AC problem is fixed but still get an intermittent crank no start. I get another ECM...this time from another vehicle from a good supplier (ECM is very clean on inside) and crank no start is gone ..car runs great after extended idling tests ... then after about 10 miles of driving it dies in flight. Crank no start. Shop finds the distributer has failed. Change the distributer. Again, car runs great at idle and on a test drive. After about 10 miles running good or so driving it dies in flight again, crank no start. Another distributer failure. Meanwhile per the shop, after new distributer it will idle hours on end no stall. I send the ECM back to the reputable supplier, he tests it...it's good. Also clean as a whistle inside and no bled capacitors and board is perfect. He offers to send back or he has another good ECM to send. I take the other offered ECM and installed in the car-again now idles good but everybody is afraid to drive as it has burned through 3 distributers while driving. Yes, harnesses continuity is good , all been tugged as well, the car doesn't stall. Only when driven for some 10+ and kills the distributer. Plugs and wires are fairly new. So far 3 ECM's on #4 Distributor and those associated wires check good. Something is shorting out these distributers.

 

How is the dizzy being tested as bad? What exact part is being diagnosed and failing constantly

 

I'm not getting a specific answer but they feel both.....I'm not sure of that myself (I'm thinking it's the ignitor) the but everything I'm reading on different threads relating to the same problem, I see that the aftermarket distributors seem to fail frequently and often.....I have found OEM ignitors and coils are still very available. They are hesitant to blame the new part...but are not finding any issues with the wiring even tugging at it. They say they are finding good continuity

 

Try to source out a oem dizzy and see if that fixes your issue. And find another shop

 

would love to buy an oem dizzy.
do they even still exist? :hmmm:

 

You can find them at the junkyard I pull multiple ones, pull the caps and inspect them whichever looks the best get it