Team,
I've been trying to slowly replace as many sensor on my 96 CE as possible. I recently bought a Delphi coil and ICM. I installed both yesterday and the car wouldn't start. I plugged the original ICM back on and it started right up. Bottom line: The coil is good...the ICM is dead on arrival. The car runs pretty smooth.

My question is: Should I just leave the original 26 year old ICM in place with the new coil and call a day... or should I order another ICM (I'm thinking WVE 6H1051) and have both components new?

Thank you for the input.
Ric

 

In my opinion no, but I am OCD about old parts. My biggest concern would be it is one of those components that either work or die without warning leaving you stranded. My old ICM is my back up for trouble shooting.

 

That's my whole intent... To freshen up everything I can. However, I do wonder sometimes if I should leave well enough alone.

 

I had problems with AC Delco, Delphi and Standard brands for my LT4. The car would start and run but would set a code. The only one that seemed to work without any issues was a Borg Warner CBE122 ICM.
I don't know if they are still available but I ordered a spare after going through all the defects.

 

the trouble is these cars are old and those parts have not been used on a production gm vehicle in over 20 years. the old oe quality stock that gets dumped into white boxes and sold as aftermarket parts after a platform is 5-10 years old have long since dried up, so the available replacements are almost always inferior off shore reproductions of the original. inferior quality!

when new the government mandates that emissions equipment (that includes ignition parts) last 7 years or 75,000 miles. gm developed decent parts to avoid mandatory recalls and warranty complaints. they dropped the ball on the opti, but the rest of the ignition system was not so bad. loading the parts cannon and replacing parts is almost always a move in the wrong direction. troubleshoot each component per the factory service manual procedures, if it is within specifications do not replace it. autozone pays pennies on the dollar for ignition parts, so they do not care if they have to give you 5 replacements, they still make money. this started being a huge problem around 2000, i worked in the automotive field, and we learned the hard way to only buy ignition electronics, especially modules, hei etc through the dealerships if they were available.

 

Bill,
I get your point. I took the car out for a ride and it ran really smooth with the new coil and old ICM.
Funny thing though, the original ICM was made in Singapore... It's printed on the backside.

Ric

 

@Bill Chase ""the trouble is these cars are old and those parts have not been used on a production gm vehicle in over 20 years. the old oe quality stock that gets dumped into white boxes and sold as aftermarket parts after a platform is 5-10 years old have long since dried up, so the available replacements are almost always inferior off shore reproductions of the original. inferior quality!""

And the biggest problem with that Bill is the old, large, established companies no longer have any shame in participating in the chinese crap money grab game.

 

Yeah, I'd keep the original ICM if it's working well. It isn't going to degrade and cause a performance problem: it either runs or it doesn't. As noted, new replacement parts are often far from OE quality and they often arrive DOA or fail quickly. "Made in Singapore" isn't the same as "made in China": the former is vastly preferable, but I doubt any of this stuff is made in Singapore these days.

 

The car is running great. I sent the Delphi unit back to Rock Auto.

 

I would get that a icm you bought and have it replaced. Once you have the replacement, I'd first check that it's OK then put one of them on the shelf. I have an 86 and some of the parts are becoming hard to find. When I see something I don't have for a decent price, I'll buy it and put it on the shelf for a rainy day. I've already had a couple of situations where something went out and I couldn't find a replacement in a timely manner. I used my stored part until I could find another replacement.
My 2 cents.

 

There is/was an authentic GM/Delco manufacturing plant in Singapore. Top notch facility (including the cafeteria ). I wouldn't be overly concerned about something manufactured there.

In late nineties GM kicked most of the parts subsidiaries to the curb, but kept the rights to the AC and Delco names. It's now a guessing game where many parts in AC Delco labeled boxes actually come from.