How will one know if the ignition control module is bad?

[JayRamb]

Has anyone had issues with their ignition control module? If so, will the car just die? How did you know when to replace it?

[jim]

Parts stores may be able to test them.
If bad, yes, they will cause the motor to die.   Mine would sometimes die when driving
40 - 45 mph. 
I think they will get hot and malfunction, and will be OK again for a while after cooling off.
One sure way to test it is to replace it.  If your problems go away you have solved that issue.
If they don't go away you have a spare ICM for when it does go bad.
If it is original it is a good idea to replace it anyway.  If it isn't bad now it wil be eventually.

I'm sure you will soon get responses from more knowledgeable members.

[carguy87]

Definitely find a new one.  Any of the old Ford trucks using these ignition systems will have an IM in them nearly identical to ours.  When mine went bad it was the same way, would be driving, or pull to a stoplight where heat has a chance to build up and it would quit, squirt some water on it from a water bottle and be back in business until next time.  You can always do the "ECM Test bypass" which I would highly recommend, I did this after replacing my IM and it ran better than ever.

[DaemonForce]

After 4 years I finally replaced my ignition module during the last Winter snowstorm and the only time the engine has died since then is when I snapped the torque converter again.

[TLC87Eagle]

Before my ignition module went out. Every so often, my Eagle would run like it was running out of gas. It would sputter, have a bad miss, to the point it would barely run enough to get home, and then would run just fine again. Then one day I was driving and the engine just shut off, no warning, no sputtering or anything, and it would not fire back up again even after sitting for 20 minutes. It was a good thing I had an extra module in the back, so I changed it, and I was on my way. I got a new one and took my spare back off and put it back in the cargo area.
Hope this helps.

[DaemonForce]

Before my ignition module went out. Every so often, my Eagle would run like it was running out of gas. It would sputter, have a bad miss, to the point it would barely run enough to get home, and then would run just fine again. Then one day I was driving and the engine just shut off, no warning, no sputtering or anything, and it would not fire back up again even after sitting for 20 minutes. It was a good thing I had an extra module in the back, so I changed it, and I was on my way. I got a new one and took my spare back off and put it back in the cargo area.
Hope this helps.

This is the exact behavior of a bad ignition module. If this is happening, your car will die at random(READ: NOT just at every other stop sign...That's something else). If your Eagle is doing this, you need to change the ignition module or your car is going to remain an unstable death trap. You do not need intermittent deaths happening to you when you're in one lane transfers on the freeway or at nice and big intersections where people run red lights all the time. Fix it immediately.

[eaglebeek]

May I also recommend you also replace the distributor pickup coil when you replace the IM, just on general principles.

[JayRamb]

Soooooo....I replaced the ICM and that seemed to do the trick. Runs a lot better. The car used to die at idle and then wouldn't start like there was no spark. It would die at a stop light or sometimes while driving. I drove it today and no problems or issues. Crossing fingers...Jayson

[TLC87Eagle]

I'd say its fixed. Igniting modules go out in different ways I found. My Eagle sputtered and acted up at random times before it completely failed. I've also had a Chevy with the HEI module just shut off randomly and would start back up after cool down before it completely failed. So its good that you got it changed now, because one day it would have shut off like it had been, and wouldn't have fired back up at all no matter how long it sat or how many times you cranked. I'd also recommend buying a spare one, because I've heard stories of the aftermarket ones failing after only several months due to poor workmanship and/or being foreign made. I got mine from NAPA (part # TP-40), with a 5 year warranty, but hopefully it won't need replaced that soon.

[JayRamb]

I'd say its fixed. Igniting modules go out in different ways I found. My Eagle sputtered and acted up at random times before it completely failed. I've also had a Chevy with the HEI module just shut off randomly and would start back up after cool down before it completely failed. So its good that you got it changed now, because one day it would have shut off like it had been, and wouldn't have fired back up at all no matter how long it sat or how many times you cranked. I'd also recommend buying a spare one, because I've heard stories of the aftermarket ones failing after only several months due to poor workmanship and/or being foreign made. I got mine from NAPA (part # TP-40), with a 5 year warranty, but hopefully it won't need replaced that soon.

that's a good idea to have an extra on hand! mine is made in china; as they probably all are. Thanks for the tip!