MSD 6AL malfunctioning - again??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Now I'm a little peaved. I bought this car with the MSD in it already and after downloading the manual and going over it carefully and inspecting my connections I have found that my box is pulling power from the alternator. It only says don't hook it up the the alternator in like 5 spots in the instruction manual. I also see that many of you have recommended powering it directly from the battery so I suspect here in lies my problem.
In any event, the box is heading back to TX for inspection and I've got a Mallory Hyfire box from a friend that I am going to hook up for the month it will take to turn my MSD around. If it works well I'm just going to stick with the Mallory.
In any event, the box is heading back to TX for inspection and I've got a Mallory Hyfire box from a friend that I am going to hook up for the month it will take to turn my MSD around. If it works well I'm just going to stick with the Mallory.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 517
Likes: 7
From: Peoria IL
It's a resonable hypothesis. The load dump spikes from the alternator are severe, and moving your connection to the battery is effective at snubbing them. I wish MSD put more effective protection right in their module but those measures don't always work.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
I've still heard about a lot of problems with these units, even if powering directly from the battery. I suspect mine is not long for this world on my C-3. Maybe I'll sell it to someone running a strip car, they seem best suited for those.
I see someone asked where mine was mounted. It has been mounting vertically on the firewall tucked up inside the drivers side fender. So slightly toward the outside of the vehicle and about 2 inches below the top of the master cylinder. If you don't get your head right in there you wouldn't even know it's there. Those of you with power brakes probably wouldn't be able to get it in this position w/ the booster in place.
I see someone asked where mine was mounted. It has been mounting vertically on the firewall tucked up inside the drivers side fender. So slightly toward the outside of the vehicle and about 2 inches below the top of the master cylinder. If you don't get your head right in there you wouldn't even know it's there. Those of you with power brakes probably wouldn't be able to get it in this position w/ the booster in place.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Just wanted to update you on this a little bit:
According to the MSD techs:
If you do have a battery charger on the car and attempt to start the car, there is a good chance it will blow one of the resistors inside the box. If you have your charger to a hard charge and attempt to start, it will do even more damage.
After searching through current instructions sheets and even old ones I do not see any warning for this.
What we found that makes sense about this is the 72 blew up right after we jumped the car with a battery charger, and the 58 was having the power window doors completely rebuilt. A battery charger was on this car even though we made no attempt to start it with the charger on the car.
Maybe I missed a warning or something? Anyone else ever hear of this?
This will lead me to install a cutoff switch in the main power wire so if I need to charge the battery I should not have to worry about it on the 72.
Any Input?
Willcox
According to the MSD techs:
If you do have a battery charger on the car and attempt to start the car, there is a good chance it will blow one of the resistors inside the box. If you have your charger to a hard charge and attempt to start, it will do even more damage.
After searching through current instructions sheets and even old ones I do not see any warning for this.
What we found that makes sense about this is the 72 blew up right after we jumped the car with a battery charger, and the 58 was having the power window doors completely rebuilt. A battery charger was on this car even though we made no attempt to start it with the charger on the car.
Maybe I missed a warning or something? Anyone else ever hear of this?
This will lead me to install a cutoff switch in the main power wire so if I need to charge the battery I should not have to worry about it on the 72.
Any Input?
Willcox
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 11
Unless you need a rev limiter, the MSD offers nothing over the stock GM HEI. I too have had horrible experiences with MSD's products and customer support. I have used Accel, Proform and Pertronix HEI distributors without problems. No more MSD for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Johnston Iowa
One other tip I might suggest is that MSD sells a big capicator that they recommend you install in front of the ignition box. The capacitor is supposed to help protect the box and the box is supposed draw its power through the capacitor. It is also supposed to protect the box during jump starts.
http://www.msdignition.com/Products/...,_26_Kufd.aspx
http://www.msdignition.com/Products/...,_26_Kufd.aspx
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
What I find odd about this is that we had the capacitor in the 72 and it still blew. (and it needs the rev limit as does the 58).
What I find even stranger is that if they know about this problem why not do something to stop it like put a note in the instruction installation sheet! The guy was like “oh . . . Yeah you don’t want to do that, she’ll blow”.
I’m with Reggie for the most part. I think I will look for a different product the next time.
My fix-it bug got the best of me the other day. I tore one apart to see what was inside and if possibly I could repair one of the old fried ones I have. Don’t try this; just send it in for a 50 buck repair. They coat everything inside with a clear jell and it is impossible to get this stuff off the components.
What I find even stranger is that if they know about this problem why not do something to stop it like put a note in the instruction installation sheet! The guy was like “oh . . . Yeah you don’t want to do that, she’ll blow”.
I’m with Reggie for the most part. I think I will look for a different product the next time.
My fix-it bug got the best of me the other day. I tore one apart to see what was inside and if possibly I could repair one of the old fried ones I have. Don’t try this; just send it in for a 50 buck repair. They coat everything inside with a clear jell and it is impossible to get this stuff off the components.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 13, 2009 at 11:34 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I have a 6AL in my '67 Mustang; it's been there for 15 years which included six years of vintage racing. Never any problems. ALL the racers used them, and more than one warned me against using Mallory products in a race car. I did buy an MSD5 for my motorhome a few years back (460 Ford w/stock duraspark distributor) and it was poop right out of the box...called MSD to verify that I had hooked it up right (I had), couldn't get it to work, so I sent it back. My Corvette has a Pertronix in it with the Superhypermegablaster coil, it also works fine and doesn't have any problems with cluttering up the already-too-small C3 engine bay. All the NASCAR Cup teams use MSD but they also have TWO boxes installed with an "A-B" switch in case one pops (which they of course occasionally do) but if I had just made the discovery that you had regarding hooking the box to the alternator I think I'd give it one more shot- when they're working right there's nothing better IMHO.
