No spark
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
No spark
I have driving the vette some days after winter storage with no issues. But now when I started it, it run 10 seconds and died. After that no promises fully dead.
What I did do was some testing: I used a checking pen with light.
1. pen was put between coil + and ground. When cranking the engine the light goes on and off. So maybe the current is flowing inside the coil from MSD box.
2. Coils terminal that is connected to distributor. The pen inside that coil terminal and ground. When cranking - no light. Is the coil the problem?
3. I attached a brand new spark plug into that wire coing from coil to distributor (into the distributor end) and cranking - no spark in plug when plug is place tight on ground. Is the coil the problem?
Well...I bought a new coil and new try, but same situation no spark in a sparg plug test (test nr 3). Also test nr 1 show same result as earlier.
What to do next?
http://www.msdignition.com/instructi...pdf?terms=6421
Page 10 lower picture, I do have that setup with distributor.
What I did do was some testing: I used a checking pen with light.
1. pen was put between coil + and ground. When cranking the engine the light goes on and off. So maybe the current is flowing inside the coil from MSD box.
2. Coils terminal that is connected to distributor. The pen inside that coil terminal and ground. When cranking - no light. Is the coil the problem?
3. I attached a brand new spark plug into that wire coing from coil to distributor (into the distributor end) and cranking - no spark in plug when plug is place tight on ground. Is the coil the problem?
Well...I bought a new coil and new try, but same situation no spark in a sparg plug test (test nr 3). Also test nr 1 show same result as earlier.
What to do next?
http://www.msdignition.com/instructi...pdf?terms=6421
Page 10 lower picture, I do have that setup with distributor.
Last edited by Vesa; Apr 17, 2010 at 12:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
I found my volt meter. The cround wire gets full 12v ground. Both + wires suply full 12v and new coil didi not help. And doing that test MSD recommends points out that the BOX is the reason...so **** stuff this digital 6al-2 if 6 months old box dies like this
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
That can not have been a problem...I think...the weather has been between 5 and 10 degrees celcius. I mounted in behind right hand side front tire inside the engine compartment side to the lowest possible point. You can actually see it through the fender ventilation hole.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
So, even if the box is mounted very low, it doesn't mean that it's the "coldest" area.
I mounted mine in front of the radiator, about 10" behind the front license plate. This is a really cold place and even the rain won't be a problem.
I did this after a bad experience similar to yours... but it's a long story...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
I'm not so sure about that. Fenders holes are here to evacuate most of the heat generated under hood by the exhaust pipes and hot air coming from the radiator.
So, even if the box is mounted very low, it doesn't mean that it's the "coldest" area.
I mounted mine in front of the radiator, about 10" behind the front license plate. This is a really cold place and even the rain won't be a problem.
I did this after a bad experience similar to yours... but it's a long story...
So, even if the box is mounted very low, it doesn't mean that it's the "coldest" area.
I mounted mine in front of the radiator, about 10" behind the front license plate. This is a really cold place and even the rain won't be a problem.
I did this after a bad experience similar to yours... but it's a long story...
I had 5 years 6AL in exactly same location and no issues, I sold that to a friend 6 months ago and it still runs great.
I have engine oil cooler mounted in same position as your ignition box...
Did you or MSD open the broken unit and validate the unit that was heat the reason? Or bad hangover on monday on assembly line, or bad design quality on the whole series or?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Could the module have fried...causing "no spark"? There's not a whole lot that could go wrong there, especially since it was running when you parked it. Also make sure the battery wire that feeds the dizzy is in good condition, and fully clipped in. I had the wire come out on mine this weekend, and it did the same thing. Clipped it back in, and it was good to go.
Deja
Deja
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Was it 6AL-2 that died from you? Are those weaker, of bad quality compared to old 6AL...
I had 5 years 6AL in exactly same location and no issues, I sold that to a friend 6 months ago and it still runs great.
I have engine oil cooler mounted in same position as your ignition box...
Did you or MSD open the broken unit and validate the unit that was heat the reason? Or bad hangover on monday on assembly line, or bad design quality on the whole series or?
I had 5 years 6AL in exactly same location and no issues, I sold that to a friend 6 months ago and it still runs great.
I have engine oil cooler mounted in same position as your ignition box...
Did you or MSD open the broken unit and validate the unit that was heat the reason? Or bad hangover on monday on assembly line, or bad design quality on the whole series or?
So this is why when I bought the MSD-6AL, I decided to change the mounting location.
As far as I know, the new 6AL-2 uses digital electronics instead of old-fashioned analogic components and the new electronic diagram is much more complex.
These digital components are also generally more delicate.
I don't mean I'm sure this is the origin of your problems, but it's a possibility. Perhaps the old MSD-6AL could handle higher temperatures...
Maybe you could put a thermometer in the same location as your ignition box, so you could know how hot it is in this place.
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Apr 18, 2010 at 03:33 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Mine is 12 years old and is still working perfectly.
But I think you should try the thermometer tip I was speaking about, just in case...
