Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions?
Just another beautiful 80 degree day on Pacific Coast Highway in traffic, and suddenly pushing down on the pedal on the right didn't make the car go forward anymore....
I had an MSD billet distributor and 6AL box installed a few weeks ago, so I automatically suspected the ignition system. I pulled a spark plug wire and tried to get a spark to jump to the block as I had someone turn the key, and no luck.
I'm hoping it's just a bad coil. The shop I went to for the MSD Box didn't put in a new coil, which surprised me, but I figured I'd do it myself pretty soon, so I left the old one in.
Anyone want to weigh in on how I should diagnose the problem? The plan I came up with was:
1. Get a new coil, and see if that solves the problem.
2. Reinstall the old distributor, and if that solves the problem, take the car back to the shop and have them replace the 6Al box.
Wave on! :chevy
-the Bruce
[Modified by thebruce, 12:15 PM 3/29/2004]
I had an MSD billet distributor and 6AL box installed a few weeks ago, so I automatically suspected the ignition system. I pulled a spark plug wire and tried to get a spark to jump to the block as I had someone turn the key, and no luck.
I'm hoping it's just a bad coil. The shop I went to for the MSD Box didn't put in a new coil, which surprised me, but I figured I'd do it myself pretty soon, so I left the old one in.
Anyone want to weigh in on how I should diagnose the problem? The plan I came up with was:
1. Get a new coil, and see if that solves the problem.
2. Reinstall the old distributor, and if that solves the problem, take the car back to the shop and have them replace the 6Al box.
Wave on! :chevy
-the Bruce
[Modified by thebruce, 12:15 PM 3/29/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions? (thebruce)
[QUOTE]The plan I came up with was:
1. Get a new coil, and see if that solves the problem.
2. Reinstall the old distributor, and if that solves the problem, take the car back to the shop and have them replace the 6Al box.
Wave on! :chevy
-the Bruce
Sounds like a plan, but I tink, it may be the 6AL box...if it overheats, it causes a major headache.
1. Get a new coil, and see if that solves the problem.
2. Reinstall the old distributor, and if that solves the problem, take the car back to the shop and have them replace the 6Al box.
Wave on! :chevy
-the Bruce
Sounds like a plan, but I tink, it may be the 6AL box...if it overheats, it causes a major headache.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 1
From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
Re: Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions? (GDaina)
Fevre just had this problem in an F body and his turned out to be a chewed up dist gear.
I had my first car do this to me quit when I was accelerating, no spark that turned out to be a bad timing chain and chewed cam gear.
just a couple thoughts
Steve :steering:
[Modified by stpman, 1:57 PM 3/29/2004]
I had my first car do this to me quit when I was accelerating, no spark that turned out to be a bad timing chain and chewed cam gear.
just a couple thoughts
Steve :steering:
[Modified by stpman, 1:57 PM 3/29/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Re: Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions? (stpman)
Mine died while idling in traffic, so hopefully no catastrophic mechanical
damage. I'm going to try and pick up a coil on my way home from work tonight, so I've got my fingers crossed that it'll be up and running an hour or so later.
GDaina- when an MSD box dies from overheating, does it die for good, or does it just blow a fuse or link? Since I had a shop do it, I'll be more than a little frustrated if the box is completely shot because it got too hot. They claimed there would be plenty of ventilation on the driver's side of the engine compartment, so it will be on them to replace it and mount it elsewhere.
damage. I'm going to try and pick up a coil on my way home from work tonight, so I've got my fingers crossed that it'll be up and running an hour or so later.
GDaina- when an MSD box dies from overheating, does it die for good, or does it just blow a fuse or link? Since I had a shop do it, I'll be more than a little frustrated if the box is completely shot because it got too hot. They claimed there would be plenty of ventilation on the driver's side of the engine compartment, so it will be on them to replace it and mount it elsewhere.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Re: Car died-- ignition problem. Suggestions? (GDaina)
Thanks, I think. Any experience with MSD on getting a replacement? Is this farily common? The box was brand new, and I'd only driven the car a week or so with it installed!
