Been trying to help Gothtrucker on another forum, and I see he has a post here as well.

With all this discussion between him and I a ran across a weird problem, I couldn't explain.


In my Ford Wiring Diagrams, I have the big fold out versions it explains the following...

The Red/Light Blue wire from the Ignition switch goes to the Red wire on the module and it's hot in start only.

The White/Lt. Blue Wire goes to the White wire and it's hot in run.

This is according to my ford diagrams.

This is also how my 1981 truck main harness is wired!! I confirmed it.

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I know some of the aftermarket Duraspark modules have the white and red wire reveresed in its harness.

I have a aftermarket DSII and the white wire from module hooks to the Red/Light blue wire of the truck, and the Red wire of module hooks to the White/Light Blue wire of the truck.

Now my question is this. Which wire at the module is which. I get conflicting answers depending on which source I look up. I'd rather trust my Ford diagrams than the aftermarket or people's websites etc... but the Red and White wires are inverted at the Module plug.

Is it just the aftermarket module wire colors are crossed, and it is hooked up right, or is it, that the wires themselves are hooked up backwards?



Why the descrepency?


Anyone know? Makes it damn confusing!

 

We have an '86 and the wires are the same as you discribed. It's a Motorcraft brand moduel but it's probably made by another company, possably Chineese.. My guess is the aftermarket builders don't know or aren't too worried about wire color. The moduel only plugs in one way, and the truck runs.

 

the two prong connector that has red and white wires and goes into a 3 wire connector that are white,red, and white with blue on the other side are all hot wires. it is easy to get the hot to the coil using one of these, beyond that black with green stripe, purple, and orange wires go directly from the distributor to the module that goes on the inner fender. the green wire on the module goes to the negative side of the coil. this was a duraspark swap on my 84, might be a little different

 

It is very strange though. And my friend at Ford could not help answer the question either. And he's worked there for 15 years.

 

Stab in the dark here, but is it CA emissioned? How about automatic vs. manual w/ nuetral safety or clutch release safety switch? As for my DSII swap, I bought a pigtail assembly from Bumper-to-Bumper that connected to the tfi coil(86 engine) which it had 3 wires out the end. 2 were the same...green w/yellow one of these was for a tach. The other is the pos. red w/lt.green wire. They spliced into my stock harness that goes along the valve cover, where it connects to the connector coming out of the firewall. A seperate assembly goes over to the solenoid, and one from the distributor going to the spark box on the fenderwell. I can look at the wiring colors later today. I had no problems, but mine was the opposite install, as I put a 86 tfi equipped engine into my 79 bronco with DSII.

update: just read the 80-86 thread, and it seems he's making headway, so....

 

Mine is california emissioned yes.

And there are differences in the distributor of my DS-II system. But all of it is vacuum advance related.

The MCU controls base timing with a spark retard solenoid, hooked into the vacuum line of the DS-II distributor's vacuum advance.

The internal workings is slightly different because there is a vacuum signal at the vacuum advance all the time. Base timing is set to 6º BTDC, and when you plug the hose in it jumps to 10º BTDC, at idle. If you put a regular DS-II dizzy in there, it will cause the truck to diesel like nobody's buissness.

Other than those slight differences, it's exactly the same as any other DS-II system. Including the module.

Still doesn't explain why the wires are inverted at that plug.

As you say, as long as it works. Just would like to find out the reason why?
Nobody seems to know. Even people I've talked to at Ford.

 

I guess perhaps if an aftermarket w/reversed wires, and an original were both pulled apart, and see if the connections are also reversed or not, would help explain why they are purposely reversed or if the wires "crossover" in a different direction inside the plug. I suppose I'd have to see it firsthand. It is one of those "things" though. One more reason for my chevy friends to rag on me...lol