msd ignition quit?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
msd ignition quit?
hey guys! sorry it's been so long since I've poked around in here...
so my girls car needs work, and I'm just not interested in working on the sideways V6. So I take the car to the local shop. Now, she's in my 2008 Escape and I'm driving my old truck. I have to go back to the shop twice to get stuff out of her car that she forgot (nevermind I asked her to get anything she needed). On the second trip, i hit a bump leaving the shop and my old truck just quits. I don't have a tool with me, so i get it towed home. Towing guys asked "you're at the shop and you want a tow home?".. and I explain that my truck is very custom, an I was better off working on it. I did not find any busted connections. I'm running an MSD 6AL ignition with an MSD billet distributor. I replaced the magnetic pickup in the dizzy since that has failed before. But, that didn't get the truck running. If I short the magnetic pickup leads, I get a spark out of the coil. but the truck will not run. I might get one combustion when i first hit the starter but nothing more. I want to try another 6al box, but according to the MSD site, if i get a spark by shorting the pickup, then it's working.
I doubt it's fuel related, since it quit so abruptly.
any suggestions?
so my girls car needs work, and I'm just not interested in working on the sideways V6. So I take the car to the local shop. Now, she's in my 2008 Escape and I'm driving my old truck. I have to go back to the shop twice to get stuff out of her car that she forgot (nevermind I asked her to get anything she needed). On the second trip, i hit a bump leaving the shop and my old truck just quits. I don't have a tool with me, so i get it towed home. Towing guys asked "you're at the shop and you want a tow home?".. and I explain that my truck is very custom, an I was better off working on it. I did not find any busted connections. I'm running an MSD 6AL ignition with an MSD billet distributor. I replaced the magnetic pickup in the dizzy since that has failed before. But, that didn't get the truck running. If I short the magnetic pickup leads, I get a spark out of the coil. but the truck will not run. I might get one combustion when i first hit the starter but nothing more. I want to try another 6al box, but according to the MSD site, if i get a spark by shorting the pickup, then it's working.
I doubt it's fuel related, since it quit so abruptly.
any suggestions?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 4
From: Golden, CO
About time you check in!!! :Scolding off:
I agree with two things you have already posted:
1) It's electrical.
2) It's not the MSD module.
I think there is something loose that you have yet to find. I had a coil primary wire slip off it's terminal every time I cam to a stop. Haunted me for weeks, until it stayed off. Another time I parked and listed to the engine miss in perfect rythm with the keys as they swung back and forth.
Have you tried shaking the wires? Take one section at a time, pull, pry, or shake it and try the key.
HTH
I agree with two things you have already posted:
1) It's electrical.
2) It's not the MSD module.
I think there is something loose that you have yet to find. I had a coil primary wire slip off it's terminal every time I cam to a stop. Haunted me for weeks, until it stayed off. Another time I parked and listed to the engine miss in perfect rythm with the keys as they swung back and forth.
Have you tried shaking the wires? Take one section at a time, pull, pry, or shake it and try the key.
HTH
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Well I'll be damned , look at what the Cat drug in...LOL.. Good to hear from ya Greg!
And as far as the MSD goes, IF i recall you have had problems with that set-up since day one? Yeah I would think with you saying this happened right after hitting a bump that you just shook something loose?
08 Escalade huh.... what happened with the Jeep? Damn you go thru some rides dude!! LOL...Good to hear from ya!!
RJ
And as far as the MSD goes, IF i recall you have had problems with that set-up since day one? Yeah I would think with you saying this happened right after hitting a bump that you just shook something loose?
08 Escalade huh.... what happened with the Jeep? Damn you go thru some rides dude!! LOL...Good to hear from ya!!
RJ
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 565
Likes: 3
From: saxton pa.
Msd
Greg does your MSD box have a Rev Limiter in it?? If it does change the chip out sometimes they will cause the problem you have. ----PS we have had several do this!
Have A Good Day-------Hotwrench
Have A Good Day-------Hotwrench
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Hey Greg! What's up? Nothing good I see.
Ok, you've checked the box and it fires if you cross the leads, then I'd say the box is okay. There is two power wires, main and key. Did you check to make sure both are hot? If box is working it should, but doesn't hurt to confirm connections.
How is the keyswitch plug on back of dash? I had mine come loose and truck shuts off, aburtly. The lock tab was broke off and it would shake loose and quit randomly. I find myself driving down the road and reaching behind to make sure it's tight ocassionaly. Truck would turn over, sorta start and I'd release the key and it would die. Took some time to figure out the cause, and no I don't worry about it IF it happens.
Ok, you've checked the box and it fires if you cross the leads, then I'd say the box is okay. There is two power wires, main and key. Did you check to make sure both are hot? If box is working it should, but doesn't hurt to confirm connections.
How is the keyswitch plug on back of dash? I had mine come loose and truck shuts off, aburtly. The lock tab was broke off and it would shake loose and quit randomly. I find myself driving down the road and reaching behind to make sure it's tight ocassionaly. Truck would turn over, sorta start and I'd release the key and it would die. Took some time to figure out the cause, and no I don't worry about it IF it happens.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Have you made the sure distributor is turning? 
Wait, that's nothing to laugh at.
Pull the dizzy or put that electronic stuff into another one, and spin it by hand. Do you get a spark?
Bad ground? Anything's possible. Funny that you hit a bump and it quit.
Tow it over another one maybe it'll start?
Glad to gear from you Greg, been a while...
Wait, that's nothing to laugh at.
Pull the dizzy or put that electronic stuff into another one, and spin it by hand. Do you get a spark?
Bad ground? Anything's possible. Funny that you hit a bump and it quit.
Tow it over another one maybe it'll start?
Glad to gear from you Greg, been a while...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 3
From: tulsa
when you installed the msd and you used crimp style commectors check the connectors. I fought a bad connection for a week, water had corroded the crimp from the inside could not see it under the plastic cover. Some times that msd stuff is pickey. If I have a weak batterie in my race car it will turn over but won't fire. I carry a spare msd 6a in my truck because I have had it let go several times.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
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From: Littleton, CO
WOW, I'm reaching for my coat 'cause I think we are going to freeze over here.
Welcome back Greg! In order to fix the truck, you need to release the girl who caused it's problem.....
--Mike
Welcome back Greg! In order to fix the truck, you need to release the girl who caused it's problem.....
--Mike
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
Originally Posted by Mike G
WOW, I'm reaching for my coat 'cause I think we are going to freeze over here.
Welcome back Greg! In order to fix the truck, you need to release the girl who caused it's problem.....
--Mike
Welcome back Greg! In order to fix the truck, you need to release the girl who caused it's problem.....
--Mike
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
i'm pathetic! it was just the coil. I replaced it with one of these MSD high vibration coils, sinc emine is mounted on teh AC compressor for now. My compressor doesn't work anyway, so I took thebelt off. that shoudl reduce teh vibration. truck is running pretty good. I tightened up all teh exhaust and it sounds nice going through the mufflers like it should :-) I do have a miss, probably a bad plug or wire.
I just managed to get all three vehicles in teh garage for teh first time, with all my tools. pretty awesome. I miss my shop at the old house, but this will work for now.
talk at ya soon,
greg
I just managed to get all three vehicles in teh garage for teh first time, with all my tools. pretty awesome. I miss my shop at the old house, but this will work for now.
talk at ya soon,
greg
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
You have to watch what coil you run, as some of those hi power units are for short time use only(ie: drag racing). You'll overheat it and burn it up over time.
We were just discussing this a few weeks ago with buddy's hot rod(600in Mustang). The coil died and he found out that it was truly racing only. With the excessive running time he put on it, it died.
Glad to hear ya got it figured out.
We were just discussing this a few weeks ago with buddy's hot rod(600in Mustang). The coil died and he found out that it was truly racing only. With the excessive running time he put on it, it died.
Glad to hear ya got it figured out.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
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From: Texas
I initially ran teh MSD Blater coil, then used a locally purchased Accel coil. All high performance, but none I think would be called "racing" coils. Hopefully this "high vibration" MSD coil will last a bit longer.
now I've got a virgin MSD 6AL in a box I need to ship back to Summit, sell or just keep for some future project :-) I ordered it when I ordered the coil. I wanted to figure it that weekend.
I went ahead and ordered new plug wires and another dizzy cap. I still have a miss I need to get rid of.
now I've got a virgin MSD 6AL in a box I need to ship back to Summit, sell or just keep for some future project :-) I ordered it when I ordered the coil. I wanted to figure it that weekend.
I went ahead and ordered new plug wires and another dizzy cap. I still have a miss I need to get rid of.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Ya, those are good, street worthy units. I'm thinking some of the hi-end(ie:expensive) coils that they offer. Buddy found out after the fact by reading the fine print. Good for short runs only(like 5 minutes or less) or it overheats and burns up(like it did).
