Code 21 No ignition Reference and a randomly dieing car........

[alpalwal]

I've been away at college and my poor 240 has been sitting neglected. I finally got a chance to put it back together and now I'm having a weird issue.

The car starts and idles just fine. When you rev it, it doesn't bog or anything.

Then about 30 seconds after starting the car it just dies. You can crank and crank the motor and all you end up doing is flooding it out. It won't start again untill you leave it for a while and come back to it.

I checked the check engine lights today and I'm throwing a code 21. No ignition reference.

This sounds important and that it could be my problem but i have no idea what it means!

Help!

[Cyclemut]

I believe your distributor is crapping out on you.

I'll have to check my FSM tonight and verify.

What year?

[alpalwal]

89 with a dohc swapped in.

so i should check the distributor and the wiring?

[Cyclemut]

I'm guessing that when the vehicle dies, there is no ignition spark. The code is for the sensor in the distributor (1 of 2) and when it goes, the diode isn't on.

Replacement of the starter would be in order here. There isn't anything serviceable in it.