My ignition has failed and I could use a little help determining it's the box, dist, coil, etc.

Setup is MSD A6L box, MSD tach drive (PN8571) and a MSD blaster coil. I have checked all the connections and they seem fine. I get 12 + volts with key on to the box. Nothing coming out at the coil or the harness going to the dist. Is there a test I can to nail it down. This set up has been running flawlessly for about three years now.

 

I helped a guy with a bad MSD 6AL box once. I could not measure any AC or DC voltage output from the box to coil. This is the coil trigger signal and a fairly high voltage (400-700 volts pulsed DC). A simple swap with my spare 6A box got him running again. I feel this is fairly common for the MSD analog ign boxes.
Measure box output to ground and turn the eng over with starter (have a friend help ya).
U can bypass the box also - see the MSD w/s for wiring diagram. They also have trouble shooting guides (wiring diags too) that u can print out for reference.
This is the best i can do without being there.

Good luck,
cardo0

 

There is a procedure for checking to see if the box is working on the MSD site.

One thing the box needs is a good ground so a intake manifold bolt is not the best.

I have never had any problems with the ground connected to a bell housing bolt. Make sure the battery ground wire is connected to motor under the passenger motor mount

 

Watch out for bad grounds on the box, it will kill'em every time

 

Update. Yes, Ground was the first thing I checked. I did follow the MSD trouble shooting guide. Led to a bad box. I ordered a new one from summit. We'll see if thats it. Not the best use of $250 right now but will be worth it if it fixes the toy.

 

Do you have a different coil you can try I thought it was my MSD but it was the coil.

 

I have that same setup in my car about 16yrs now.I had some problems with it from time to time. I founf its their connectors,its a tipical male female type connector,over time they wear and the connection isnt as tight as when it was new. So I sinp them off and use a new connector problem solved hope this helps

 

I did swap out the coil (new) no dice.

Just so you guys know here's the procedure:
Magnetic Pickup Trigger:

If you are using the 2-Pin Magnetic Pickup of the MSD to trigger the ignition, follow these steps.

1. Make sure the ignition switch is in the Off position.
2. Remove the coil wire from the distributor cap and position the terminal so it is approximately 1/2" from a good ground.
3. Disconnect the MSD Magnetic Pickup connector from the distributor.
4. Turn the ignition to the On position. DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE.
5. With a small jumper wire, short the Green and Violet magnetic pickup wires together then pull the jumper off. Each time the short is removed a spark should jump If spark is present, the ignition is working properly.

If there is no spark:

1. Inspect all of the wiring.
2. Substitute another coil and test again. If there is now spark, the coil is at fault.
3. If there is still no spark, check to make sure there is 12 volts on the small Red wire from the MSD when the key is in the On position. If 12 volts are not present, find another 12 volt source and repeat the test.
4. After inspecting the test procedures and inspecting all of the wiring, there is still no spark, the Ignition is at fault. See the Warranty and Service Page for Information.

 

Sounds like you have a bad box. If the box is under warranty, send it back for repairs. If not I would buy a different brand. I recently worked with MSD with a bad box and was very unsatisfied. There support team was not very professional and the return time on a box is about 3 weeks. SAD service.

If you have a weak battery, this will also cause you problems. Try a different battery out of another car. Good Luck.

 

I will second what sam79 says about MSD. I bought the 6AL for my son for X-mas 6 years ago and he put it on his 280Z and it worked great. Sold the Z and bought a Firebird - Formula 400. Put the box on and the tach would not work accurately ( it also cost an extra $80 to make the tach work on the datsun!). After many calls to MSD in Texas we were finally told to send the box in. We did and it took 8 weeks to get it back with a b.s. explanation of what was wrong and why it wasn't warranty (flux capacitor failure induced by pro-magnetic synergy homolugated by installer) and it still did not work. It went back to Texas again. After several frustrating phone calls and e-mails we got it back once more. It worked for about 20 minutes and quit. It is now covered in dust on a shelf in our shop where it's been sitting since 2003. No more bug zapper ignitions for me and no more MSD products either.

 

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Watch out for bad grounds on the1iiiu box, it will kil44l'em every time[/Q22UOTE]33r ty k

 

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