Code 54 (54 No sync pickup signal during engine rotation)

[Guest vicsik1969]

What is the common cure for a Code 54?

Now that I have the air conditioning fixed and am re-assembling my interior, my random stalls, hard starts are becoming more frequent.

Damndest thing, sometimes it will start right away, sometimes it needs to sit for a couple of hours. Right now, its sitting on the road two blocks from my house. Hopefully it will start so I can move it to the garage, but I would like help troubleshooting especially considering I'm trying to make the TC my daily driver to graduate school that starts Monday, 30 June.

Thanks.

Darrin

[Bill Reichert]

http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/fault/code54.html]

The HEP, hall effect processor is failing. Use Mopar only unless you enjoy bring parts back to the parts store.

If you enjoy junkyarding, Pick up a couple extra when you can. They are know to fail without warning.

Interesting note from another site is that a new mopar distributor is not much more than just this part.

[Guest vicsik1969]

Found the two cables and reproduced the effect of stuttering stalling by swinging them around. Tied them down and she *seems* to be running fine...

[Guest LouZ]

Hi,

What usually happens is: there is an internal break in the conductor(wire). By you securing it you have actually caused the two ends of the internal break to touch.. You have not repaired anything. My feeling is that at the worse possible time the contact will be broken and the engine will stop.. I suggest you replace the wire or a whole distributor.. Good Luck, Lou

[TwinCamFan]

Yeah, they are so small, light and easy to replace on the SOHC cars that I have always kept a spare in the glovebox with an el-cheapo $.99 stubby Phillips screwdriver. Had to replace maybe 4-5 over the years.

Also when you do delve into it a little deeper, make sure the female side of the pins in the 2 connectors are tight when plugged in. If they loosen up, contact can be lost and give the symptoms of a failing HEP. You can close them up a bit with a Jewler's screwdriver

Alan

[Guest LouZ]

Hey Alan,

Is there an approved or at least suggested "Dielectric Grease" to coat the connection with to improve connectivity

Tks, Lou

[TwinCamFan]

That's a great idea Lou I've used dielectric grease on plug wires, on the pins on the SMEC and SBEC control modules but never thought of using it on the HEP pins

Alan

[Bill Reichert]

And zip tie the two halves of each connector together. Forgot that earlier.

[Guest LouZ]

Sometimes as familiar as we are with something, a part of it evades us