Power Transistor Test And Ignition Coil Test 3.0L Nissan (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)

This comprehensive tutorial will help yous test the following ignition arrangement components: ignition coil, ability transistor, spark plug wires, and distributor cap.

This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

  • 3.0L V6 Nissan D21: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993.
  • 3.0L V6 Nissan Pathfinder: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.
  • iii.0L V6 Nissan Pickup: 1994, 1995.

En Español You can discover this tutorial in Castilian here: Cómo Probar La Bobina Y Módulo De Encendido (1990-1995 iii.0L Pathfinder y Pick Upwards) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

NOTE: You can find the camshaft position sensor test here: How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1990-1995 Nissan Selection Up And Pathfinder).

WIRING DIAGRAM: Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1990-1995 iii.0L Nissan Selection Upward And Pathfinder).

Symptoms Of A Bad Ability Transistor Or Ignition Ringlet

In a nutshell, when either the power transistor or the ignition coil fails, the engine is not gonna' get-go.

To exist a bit more specific: When either i of these components fail the engine is not gonna' start because none of the six cylinders will get spark.

Symptoms Of A Bad Distributor Cap And Spark Plug Wires

It's very mutual for one or several spark plug wires to get bad. When they do become bad, they don't transmit spark to the spark plug they're connected to.

It's also common for one or several of the distributor cap towers to go bad. When this happens those benefactor cap towers will non transmit spark to the spark plug wires that are continued to them.

Yous'll as well see i or more of the following symptoms:

  • Engine misfires.
  • No power when accelerating the vehicle down the road.
  • Idles rough.
  • Bad gas mileage.
  • Black smoke coming out of the tail-pipe.
  • Rotten egg smell coming out of the tail-pipe.
  • Smell of unburned gasoline coming out of the tail-pipe.
  • Won't pass the country emissions test.

Basic Nissan Ignition Organisation Theory

In a nutshell this is how the ignition arrangement works:

  1. The camshaft position sensor starts to generate and feed two position signals to your Nissan'southward PCM (Powertrain Control Module=Fuel Injection Reckoner).
  2. Once the fuel injection computer receives the camshaft position sensor signals, information technology sends the power transistor an activation signal.
  3. Once the power transistor receives its activation bespeak, it activates the ignition coil past interrupting the ignition curl'due south master current circuit.
  4. In one case the ignition ringlet is activated past the power transistor, information technology starts to spark.
  5. The ignition roll'south spark is transmitted to the eye of the distributor'due south cap by a high tension wire.
  6. The distributor rotor then distributes the spark to the distributor cap towers.
  7. From the benefactor cap towers the spark is transmitted to the spark plugs via high tension wires.

With the help of this tutorial you'll exist able to check the ignition coil's high tension wire, the spark plug wires, the benefactor cap, the ignition coil, the power transistor.

What Tools Practise I Need To Test The Ignition Organization?

Although the tests in this article are piece of cake and unproblematic, you practise need some specific tools to perform them with. Here's the list:

  • An HEI spark tester
    • You can see an example of this tool here: OTC 6589 Electronic Ignition Spark Tester.
  • An LED light.
    • You can see an instance of this LED light here: The LED Light Exam Tool And How To Make Ane.
  • Battery spring beginning cables.
  • A multimeter.
    • If y'all don't have a multimeter or would like to upgrade yours, encounter my recommendations here: Buying A Digital Multimeter For Automotive Diagnostic Testing.
  • A helper.

An ignition organization wiring diagram always comes in handy and you can observe one here: Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1990-1995 3.0L Nissan Pick Up And Pathfinder).

Camshaft Position Sensor Excursion Descriptions

In that location are iv wires coming out of the distributor's connector. This connector connects to the camshaft position sensor associates that'southward located within the distributor.

Below are the excursion descriptions of all four wires (circuits):

Camshaft Position Sensor Circuits
Pin Wire Colour Description
i Light-green With Yellow Stripe (GRN/YEL) 120° REF Indicate
2 Black With White Stripe (BLK/WHT) 12 Volts
3 Black (BLK) Chassis Ground
4 Dark-green With Blackness Stripe (GRN/BLK) 1° POS Signal

Notation: The 4-wire distributor connector pin out only applies to the 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 3.0L V6 Nissan D21, Pathfinder, and Selection Upwardly.

Power Transistor Circuits

Power Transistor Connector Pin Out (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 3.OL V6 Nissan Pick Up And Pathfinder).

Power Transistor Circuits
Pin Wire Color Clarification
1 Blue (BLU) Ignition Control Indicate
2 Black (BLK) Chassis Ground
3 White With Blackness Stripe (WHT/BLK) Power Transistor Control Signal

Ignition Coil Circuits

Ignition Coil Electrical Connector Pin Out (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 3.OL V6 Nissan Pick Up And Pathfinder).

Ignition Coil Circuits
Pin Wire Color Description
one Blue (BLU) Ignition Command Signal
i Black With White Stripe (BLK/WHT) 12 Volts