stranded by bad coil
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville TN
stranded by bad coil
Hey everyone,
I finished putting in a new MSD setup last night. My ignition finnaly seemed perfect, so I went back to tuning the carb.
Second trip out complete ignition failure on the side of the highway
Had to call and wake up my wife and get a ride back to my shop for tools. Took about an hour of checking all the obvious stuff and finnaly stumbled across a bad coil. I was really supprised that the coil had failed, I haven't seen that much. I was using a Accell high proformance coil, MSD 6AL and MSD tach drive. Everything was hooked up according to the instructions, and soldederd and heat shrunk.
Anyone else have coil failures? I hope to find a reason for the failure so I can prevent it from hapening again
I finished putting in a new MSD setup last night. My ignition finnaly seemed perfect, so I went back to tuning the carb.
Second trip out complete ignition failure on the side of the highway
Had to call and wake up my wife and get a ride back to my shop for tools. Took about an hour of checking all the obvious stuff and finnaly stumbled across a bad coil. I was really supprised that the coil had failed, I haven't seen that much. I was using a Accell high proformance coil, MSD 6AL and MSD tach drive. Everything was hooked up according to the instructions, and soldederd and heat shrunk. Anyone else have coil failures? I hope to find a reason for the failure so I can prevent it from hapening again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by builderdarin
Anyone else have coil failures? I hope to find a reason for the failure so I can prevent it from hapening again
5 or 6 thousand miles and no problems.
Believe it or not... I have a box in the back of my 73 with another Distributor set up with brand new points/condenser and an old working coil and some tools..just in case
I keep it covered with a towel so people wont think im crazy
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Kennesaw GA
It's funny that you mention bad coils.. On each of my cars when I got them the coil was bad. Maybe just sitting around breaks them, but I'm temped to buy a 6 pack of them and keep them on the shelf like oil. Once I get any of them drivable I'll spring for HEI or a pertronix unit with higher ouput devices.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
74 Vette had been running fine but I changed the AC Delco stock coil to an Accel "performance" coil a couple months ago as part of major tune up. After awhile the car would start fine when cold and seem to run OK until the motor warmed up. After thirty min. or so on the road the car would stall at traffic lights and cut off. Re-checked ignition system parts and put in a fresh set to points but continued to have same problem. Car continued to start up and run well when cold but would not hold idle when hot and would cut off. When it cut off I usually had to wait for the engine to cool down in order for it to re-start. Frustrating! Have a Haynes 1968-1982 Corvette/automotive repair manual and the trouble-shooting section along with comments from Corvette forum members re-focused my attention on the Coil. In as much as the coil was like new I did not suspect it at first. Took the Accel coil off and installed a stock AC Delco coil. Problem solved!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
When I hear of these Accel, MSD, and Pertronix failures I am reminded of why I like my stock ignition. I get lots of warnings when things START to fail, and I can buy replacement parts at ANY auto parts store in the country. There are enough stories of guys with aftermarket systems failing that it makes me wonder if there is a common failure mode here or even issues created by owner installations.
Since I can't drive my 72 as much as I would like, the idea of running points that will work right up to the point of almost no point material left, makes me happy knowing that some issue other than ignition is what I need to worry about.
Gary
Since I can't drive my 72 as much as I would like, the idea of running points that will work right up to the point of almost no point material left, makes me happy knowing that some issue other than ignition is what I need to worry about.
Gary
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville TN
Thanks for the input guys,
I put a Msd blaster on it and drove about 120 mile last night. Everyting seems fine but I can't help but worry a little now. I took a few odd tools and the stock coil just in case. According to the directions with all the MSD stuff I don't need a ballast resistor with the MSD distributor. The only power going to the coil is from the 6AL. I wonder about heat killing coils. My car never overheats but the underhood temps seem high (headers). I lifted the new blaster up a good ways off of the intake to stop the extra heat transfer.
I put a Msd blaster on it and drove about 120 mile last night. Everyting seems fine but I can't help but worry a little now. I took a few odd tools and the stock coil just in case. According to the directions with all the MSD stuff I don't need a ballast resistor with the MSD distributor. The only power going to the coil is from the 6AL. I wonder about heat killing coils. My car never overheats but the underhood temps seem high (headers). I lifted the new blaster up a good ways off of the intake to stop the extra heat transfer.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Electrical help!
While we're on the topic, I drove my '75 all last week with no problems. Parked it in the garage for a few days, and now it won't fire. I replaced the coil, distributor cap and rotor; no help. Cleaned and dried the plugs; no help. It's getting plenty of gas; no spark.
Any ideas where else to check before I cal AAA? Clock, radio, starter run ok so I have a ground...
TIA as always.
Any ideas where else to check before I cal AAA? Clock, radio, starter run ok so I have a ground...
TIA as always.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Nice Ride
Bob Onit, you might be right about the Accel Coil needing a Ballast Resistor to work properly I am not sure. It is my understanding that 74 Vettes did not have Ballast Resistors?
Heres their explanation on ballast resistors.
Before installing the ACCEL Points Eliminator Ignition System, make sure that your vehicle is equipped with an ignition ballast resistor (or loom
resistance wire) in the wire between the ignition switch and the coil (+) terminal. One easy way to find the ignition ballast resistor is to check the service
manual for your vehicle. You can test your stock ignition system voltage while the engine is at idle at the coil (+) terminal. If the measured voltage is within
1-volt of battery voltage, an ignition ballast resistor must be installed in the wire from the ignition switch. In general, all vehicles equipped with the Delco
point ignition were equipped with an ignition ballast resistor. If you find your vehicle is not equipped with an ignition ballast resistor, install an ACCEL Ignition
Ballast Resistor Part No. 150001 in series in the wire from the ignition switch. Failure to use an ignition ballast resistor will result in the eventual destruction
of the ACCEL Points Eliminator Ignition Module.
Exceptions: 1) Using one of ACCEL’s 4 specially matched coils eliminate the need for a ballast resistor or a resistance wire. These coils are: 140108, 814
My system was within range so I guess there is a built in ballast resistor and I would imagine that the 74's are the same....
Last edited by Bob Onit; Jul 2, 2006 at 04:08 PM.
