MSD ignition trouble
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 10
From: Green Springs, OH
Correct me if I am wrong but isnt the pickup what gives the signal for the igintion to juice the coil which will give the spark. In other words if you have spark out of the coil it is not the pickup. I would recheck the timing make sure that rotor is pointing at #1 at TDC.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
I've done the timing. It's at #1. I haven't done anything to thr distributor and it was running before I made the swap.
When I get some decent weather, I'll try the pick-up. Does sound kinda odd, though.
When I get some decent weather, I'll try the pick-up. Does sound kinda odd, though.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 347
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From: in a house
your right ncl. if the ignition box (msd and duraspark) does not get a signal from the pick up sensing the rotor turn there will be no power to the coil. been there done that.
Last edited by ranchero77; Dec 10, 2003 at 10:37 AM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 1
From: southeren Oh
sure you dont have the dist 180 degrees out? If so you don't have to pull the dist. just start with #1 wire and the one directly across from it and switch them. keep going till you have them all switched. I have fixed a few cars like this, it could drive other mechnics crazy if they look at the #1 cap wire goes somewhee else.
Jim
Jim
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
Not 180* out. The distributor hasn't been moved or pulled. I starting to think the instructions MSD has for wiring it up may be faulty. As I said before, it ran before I done this. All I done was put on the MSD ignition box and coil.
This weekend I'll try the pick-up. I can't hardly believe that's the problem.
This weekend I'll try the pick-up. I can't hardly believe that's the problem.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 10
From: Green Springs, OH
If you are getting spark it is not the pickup. And yes the black wire is not used. I just pulled a 6A off my truck cause it went bad on me. Does it run when you hook the ford ignition box back up? Iam pretty sure the green wire from msd goes to purple on the distributer and the purple from msd goes to orange from distributer. Do you have the red wire that goes to the coil hooked to the right wire. On mine it didnt go the coil it went to a seprate wire pretty sure it was red. It was the old wire that went to the coil and then just the msd wires hooked to coil. But if you have spark at the distributer like you said that thing should run. do you have spark at the number one plug when you turn it over?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Green Springs, OH
Man thats weird, Are you sure those wires snapped on good I have seen the connector slide down into the boot so you think they clipped on but they didnt. Just a shot in the dark. You have visually seen the spark from coil wire like by sticking a screwdriver and grounding it. How far will the spark jump it should jump at least 3/4" or so if it is real weak it probably not enough to travel through wire.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 821
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From: Normal, IL
Check the button coming from the coil tower on the bottom side of the cap. If it blew out, it wont make contact, and no spark. Also, check the tab on the rotor. Check also if the rotor is cracked. I would also check your rotor to make sure that it is the correct 1 for the dizzy.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 347
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From: in a house
I didn't think the cap button would break out, but that makes for good reason to be the problem. sometimes its the obvious. I guess you have to put yourself under the hood like thergohood did.
coondawg, let us Know if this was it.
coondawg, let us Know if this was it.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 193
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From: Western Slope, Colorado
I had this same problem, I used the Duraspark to get me down to the shop and had it hooked up to the scope it showed a very weak trigger signal, I had a spare distributor and tried it, it had enough signal to trigger the spark but was shown to be weak on the scope also. I am still using it after two years but want the MSD distributor. I don't think I was good enough this year to get one for Christmas ;(
Wes
Wes
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Senior User
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From: Saraland AL
Well, alrighty then. That sounds possible. I guess maybe it is too weak for the MSD.
It is getting some serious spark from the coil. It will arc to the intake from at least 1" away.
I thought about the cap and rotor. Replaced them when the problem started.
It is getting some serious spark from the coil. It will arc to the intake from at least 1" away.
I thought about the cap and rotor. Replaced them when the problem started.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Western Slope, Colorado
Yes mine was too weak. The jumper test worked just fine, big time loud spark. The duraspark would trigger with the original pickup but not the MSD with the original pickup. I have a total of 3 of the 6A's, one running with a mopar electronic distrubutor, and one running with a MDS billet distrubutor, no problems. The scope did show the first pickup on the Ford distributor very weak, the second pickup on an extra I had on the shelf a little weak, I know weak is subjective but I do not remember the values. It sounds like the MSD tech was saying the same thing. Good Luck.
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Dixie
ummm...did you check the white wire on the MSD Box...if it's grounded the truck won't start...the white wire can be used as a theft prevention device to disable the ignition...sometimes peeps just tuck it out of the way and forget to tape off the end....