If you recall .... bought a semi hot rod c4 2 weeks ago. Have had it in our shop for a solid week fixing things ... too close to headers (wires, fuel lines, etc...), cleaning up factory wiring where things had been added in past then clipped and removed ( security system ... sat radio ... etc ), fixing dash lights and so on, drove it 20 to 60 miles a day just testing.

Well ... decided it was reliable enough to go for a 300 mile trip and I am stranded 150 mi from home. Been towed in twice, staying in motel tonight, renting car tomorrow, bringing my truck and tiltbed back tomorrow to haul the %&$))@# thing home tomorrow.

Headed down interstate and just died, towed in and replaced the ign coil ... on the road again. 60 , miles from there she is dead again, acts just the same.


This is a zz4 crate motor in a 90 (best I can tell). Put a new rotor and cap on last week after finding center of old cap burnt, car has MSD A6 ignition.

Aparently fried the coil in the cap today first time. Second time acts the same but not confirmed yet. What would fry a coil twice if it is that? Car started to ping badly on acceleration just before it died I noticed the second time today.

Any ideas as to what I should be looking for??? I had a code reader with me and ..... nothing there, except an egr error that has been hanging around from the get go ... not had time to deal with that yet and I could be missing something as I am a new owner to this c4/


TIA

ps ... a good supply of alcohol seemed to help tonight ...

 

Sorry I can't help, but a bit of a bump for you. Hopefully you get it sorted out.

This was my biggest fear in traveling far from home to purchase a Vette. Fortunately I found one less than 100 miles away when the time came.

Sleep well. Maybe the solution will come to you in the morning.

Keep us posted, and stay safe!

 

The MSD ignition system is CD (capacitor discharge) and it has several times higher energy (watt seconds) than the HEI original system. The current pulses through the carbon button on the center of the distributor cap heats the carbon up and destroys the carbon. MSD has a copper center for use with their ignition systems in HEI cars. Next, don't use the HEI ignition coil because it is designed for 12v pulses on its primary winding from the ign module inside the distributor. Your MSD system puts 400 volt pulses on the primary and it shortens the lifetime of the spark coil. Use the MSD coil which was designed for 400 volt pulses. Even with the MSD coil, if you burn out the carbon button on the distributor cap, now you have no load on the spark coil and it will start sparking internally and you will shortly destroy the spark coil, no matter who made it!
If you want to drive long distances and actually get there and back, troublefree, then I advise you use the HEI ignition system GM designed. It makes high energy sparks, lasts a long long time, and parts are available countrywide in every town that has automobile parts for sale. Try and get an MSD spark coil in Hazard, Kentucky on Sunday!

 

Id throw that MSD inthe trash, dont need em dont trust em. Check the resistance in the module,too. Its inthe bottom of the distributor.

 

I have been stranded many times by my msd that now resides on my engine run stand.

 

After reading your comments about the MSD I decided to call O'reilly (have an account there) and had them deliver parts to the hotel parking lot. Put another coil in and (TOOK THE MSD OUT OF THE LOOP) ... ended up driving the car home instead of trailering. Had a second coil just in case but I think your right ... the MSD was eating all the other componets. Lesson learned. :o :o

MSD going to ebay as soon as time allows. No more extended road trips for this c4 for a little while ... see if anything else craps on me first. No fun waiting for parts and working along side the road or a hot lot 150 mi from the home shop.

edit: This was going to be my birthday trip to the lakes .... never made it South of Jeff City ... and mama was no happy camper either ... when mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy ...

 

Been there, done that. I feel your pain...

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku



I use this button , haven't had a failure yet with the 6al