[pic] Burn mark on my Ignition Control Module?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,858
Likes: 2
[pic] Burn mark on my Ignition Control Module?
What do you make of this mark on the rear plate of my ICM?
This is the backplate that is pressed against the heat sink which is in turn bolted to the cylinder head. Looks like a hot-spot mark sort of, but maybe not.
This is the backplate that is pressed against the heat sink which is in turn bolted to the cylinder head. Looks like a hot-spot mark sort of, but maybe not.
Last edited by Lone Ranger; May 23, 2005 at 09:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
if your ICM gave off that much heat to cause that much electrolysis, then your ICM would be toast. But your ICM does not even contact this piece. I also have a '95 and recently replaced my coil, and the pic you show looks more like the upper plate that sandwiches the coil magnet to the bottom base plate(see purple circle in pic). The ICM should only make contact to the aluminum heatsink, and then the Al heatsink screws onto metal backplate. I recently recommended to place 2 thin washers where you see 2 arrows in diagrm. This creates about 1/16"-1/8" inch space between the Al heatsink and the plate which is mounted to the head. This will help minimize the heat transfer from the hot head to the Al heatsink....Poor design by GM...unless of course their intent was to keep the ICM good and HOT!!!!!....remember, heat is the number 1 enemy of electronics...it shortens the lifespan, and slows down transistor switching speeds....
EDIT: If that acually is the bottom of your ICM, look to see if there a similar discoloration "mark" on your heatsink...If not, then probably just defect in the ICM metal plate....
EDIT: If that acually is the bottom of your ICM, look to see if there a similar discoloration "mark" on your heatsink...If not, then probably just defect in the ICM metal plate....
Last edited by MikeC4; May 24, 2005 at 01:15 AM.
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Just be sure and coat the back of the module with a thin layer of dielectric rease before re-installing it. It serves as a heat barrier and your module will die horribly without it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Just be sure and coat the back of the module with a thin layer of dielectric grease before re-installing it. It serves as a heat barrier and your module will die horribly without it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,858
Likes: 2
MikeC4, it's a picture of the back of my ICM. Your mod is similar to one I found on an F-body discussion board recently. I wonder if washers can be found that would be made from a material that is very non-conductive of heat? That might further help isolate the heat sink from heat-gain off the cylinder head. Good idea with the washers, though. I think 'm going to do that this evening.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,858
Likes: 2
Well, since everything else in my ignition system is pretty new, I went ahead and replaced the ICM yesterday. It came with a little packet of white heat sink paste to put on before securing the ICM to the heat sink, which I did.
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