MSD ignition trouble
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
MSD ignition trouble
Hey fellas. I've been away awhile and finally got a chance to post again. Unfortunately, under the wrong circumstances.
I finally had a free weekend to myself and decided to install a MSD 6 ignition, coil and wires. I got it all hooked up but the engine won't fire. There is no spark coming from the distributor. I done the test and there is spark going to the distributor.
The distributor is a stock Duraspark with vacuum advance. The wires are MSD Heli-coil, supposedly compatable.
Anyone have any experience with this? Up 'til now the truck has been pretty good since the rebuild.
I'd call MSD but I'll have to wait until Monday.
I finally had a free weekend to myself and decided to install a MSD 6 ignition, coil and wires. I got it all hooked up but the engine won't fire. There is no spark coming from the distributor. I done the test and there is spark going to the distributor.
The distributor is a stock Duraspark with vacuum advance. The wires are MSD Heli-coil, supposedly compatable.
Anyone have any experience with this? Up 'til now the truck has been pretty good since the rebuild.
I'd call MSD but I'll have to wait until Monday.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
There's spark coming from the coil wire to the distributor. I unhooked the small wires going from the box to the distributor. Then done the jumper test as MSD's manual says. The box passed the test. I hooked up the wires either way and still get the same result.
I wonder if the MSD manual had me hooking up the right wires from the distributor. They have the black wire not being used.
I wonder if the MSD manual had me hooking up the right wires from the distributor. They have the black wire not being used.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 821
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From: Normal, IL
does your msd have a retard feature? Also if you have another distributor, take the extra distributor and spin it counterclockwise, watching the reluctor wheel as to the position in relation to the pick-up when it fires. You'll need a spark tester to do this. you don't have to remove your distributor from the block to this, if u have an extra.
Last edited by There Goes The Neighborhood; Dec 6, 2003 at 09:10 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
Don't have any of that. Only other thing I can think of is maybe the wires are compatable with the MSD 6. They are MSD wires (Heli-coil) and I was led to believe they will work.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Normal, IL
plug wires shouldn't make a difference. Do you have the factory ignition to hook back up? Did you remove the distributor? you may have installed it 180* out. does it kick back when u try to start it, or does it just turn over with no resistance?
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Normal, IL
this is a long shot, but is the distributor turning full circle? u could have sheard the pin on the gear. Also try turning the ignition on and jumping the solenoid. Ford powers the box differently while cranking than when in run mode.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Saraland AL
I just talked to a fella at MSD. He said the problem was most likely the magnetic pick-up in the distributor. I'll take his advice and re-install the factory ignition box and try it. If it runs, there's something wrong in the MSD set up. If it doesn't, I'll replace the pick-up in the distributor.