Could not change title on other post, so linking to that here. https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/maz...starter-49791/

 

Cleaning up all the connections and grounds has seemed to help with the cranking but I had intermittent cranking but no start issues. Today I had a dental appointment, the B2200 wouldn't start (so I drove my 1998 Frontier). Upon my return, it still wouldn't start, so at least I had opportunity to investigate. I turned on ignition and got 12 volts positive at coil positive terminal, good. Then I set up my spark test light and my remote starter, turned ignition to "run" and cranked the engine: no spark. I even set up my timing light on a spark plug wire and then on the coil wire: no spark. I looked up how to test the coil on the online manual, primary (1.4 ohms) and secondary resistances (8.43 kohms) were within specifications. So I pulled the pickup coil/ignitor from the distributor (I had replaced the internal oil seal a full two years ago), separated the pickup coil from the ignitor and tested the resistance of the pickup coil, again in specification (1000 ohms). I'm not able to test the ignitor part myself, but did notice that its bottom metal surface was coated with clean engine oil. So I wiped that clean, and also wiped clean the corresponding surface inside the distributor.

B2200 starter-s-l500.jpgB2200 starter-new-ignition-control-module-fits-mazda-b2200-truck-ford-probe-mx-6-626-oe.jpg



On a lark I decided to re-assemble everything inside the distributor and then I tried to start it, and it started right up, and started quicker than it has for many months!!! So I wonder if the oil film on the bottom of the ignitor was the cause....anyway, this is the factory distributor at 236K miles, I decided I should order one from Rock Auto and use my existing one as a spare...



Maybe if I had a better nose I could've picked up gas smell from the exhaust while cranking, but that is not a talent I have.

 

Yesterday I installed the brand new Wai Global distributor DST882 from Rock Auto, box was torn on the inside, distributor looked OK. No instructions, no labels on the two distributor wires as to which of blue or black was positive. Anyway, set to TDC #1 (did NOT do anything to the timing belt other than take off the top cover), seated/clocked the distributor rotor to just before 9 o'clock, had to use a shorter distributor mount bolt as the new distributor plate is 8mm thinner. Anyway, no spark noticed with timing light or spark test tool, and truck would not start. Also spark wire boots don't fit as well as on the factory cap. I even tried stabbing the distributor "off" one gear tooth each way, still no start. I'll be calling Wai Global tomorrow.....and E-mailing their Tech Help...wonder if I'll even get a return call or E-mail....

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4 hours have passed, and no phone or E-mail response from Wai Global/WPS help. So I re-installed the old distributor and the truck starts right up. So I'm sending the distributor back to RockAuto for full refund and will let Wai Global/WPS deal with it that way. The Wai Global DST882 mount base was 8mm narrower, so if one didn't use a shorter 8mm x 1.25mm bolt, would've cracked that front piece that bolts to the cylinder head (no shorter bolt was included). The two DST882 distributor wires were not labeled as to positive and negative on the coil, and there were no instructions at all. The DST882 distributor cap recesses for the spark wires were 20mm as compared to 25mm on the stock distributor cap, so the spark plug wire boots could not be installed snugly.

I may consider a new distributor from a different supplier through Amazon, as returns are easier.
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I finally heard back from Wai Global; phone help said others have been satisfied, told me to return it to RockAuto for refund.