2.3L ('83-'97) Ignition Module overheating issues

[Jah-Knee]

For a 1994 2.3 manual Ranger my ignition module is overheating and has been replaced over and over with the same symptoms (starting up fine, running consistently good until all of a sudden cuts out with total loss of power and then after a short period of time will start back up until the next similar episode which might occur very soon thereafter or just after awhile) - should the ignition module be mounted on a heat sink? And should thermal paste be used instead of dielectric grease?

 

[Uncle Gump]

A heat sink certainly helps...

It is a special grease used when mounting and its not dielectric grease.

Another issue is today's parts are not the quality as they use to be. Even a good used motorcraft unit is far better then most all the aftermarkets.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've had that before, it's not heat it's a lack of ground to the module, make a ground wire from the battery or frame or whatever is easy and put it under one of the 3 mounting bolts... believe me, that's the reason I ended up rolling my '90 Ranger, it would do exactly that, it picked exactly the wrong time to do it...