msd=may suddenly die!! i won't run msd products on any more cars i own. EVER!!! just my .02

 

+1,000

 

I would disconnect everything and start over. Once you have a 12-volt supply source to the MSD Digital-6,chech to make sure that 12-volts are also coming out of it to the coil. If not ,there's your problem. Just a process of elimination. Good Luck!

 

Make sure that the switched 12V source is coming from somethnig that doesn't lose power when you turn the key. i.e. the radio, or wiper motor, or something similar. If you think about it, alot of accecories lose power when you try to start the car. So if its not a constant switched 12V, the box won't get any power while your trying to crank the car. Did you try the spark test like it says in the manual? Also double check that you have a good ground.

 

check all grounds and power wires like 'skinny351' said.It's probablly a mistake you overlooked.

 

Your 12V+ ignition wire needs to be key hot and crank hot both. Check your wire with a test light or DVM in the key on and crank positions. If you do not want to crank the motor while testing this just take the blue with a red stripe wire off the starter soleniod. See if you can locate a 12V+ source that will do this here:

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/19/59/5a/0900823d8019595a/repairInfoPages.htm

Darren

 

you should should not see voltage at the coil. MSD is capacitive discharge.Meaning the box take in 12 volts but it in turn send out 300 to 400volts at the coil If you go msd's website you can do the spark test which you will find under trouble shooting

 

are they really that bad? i just picked one up the other night and now i hear all of this stuff about them.

what ignition box do you guys run/recommend then?

 

They all have their problems. Some have good luck with others, I run a MSD digi6. I just wired it where I can bypass it easily

 

Lets try and keep this thread on the subject and help NO5.0 get his car started. Do a search on ignitions and I am sure you can find threads on opinions on here....oh, and maybe some tech to back them up but don't hold your breath.

Darren

 

Here's the MSD spark test. Totally easy to do...

http://www.msdignition.com/1troub1.htm

 

I had several MSD Digital 6 boxes and both worked fine, the 1st one I had a no start, went back cut all the wires rewired and the SOB started, so it was not the MSD, Im using another one and I wont use anything but MSD.

 

Guys, I appreciate all the info. I tried pulling the coil wire off and grounding it and no spark. The lead wire is hot both while key on and while turning over. when my key is on the little indicator light is on so pwr is going to the box but no power coming out of the box. orange wire to coil= no pwr. 2 distibutor wires no pwr. I took the box back off the car and am returning it to Detroit Speed for a different one. Ill keep you informed. thanks

 

Is it ok to have the MSD power wire connected at the same point on the solenoid that the alt and battery are? Thats where my box was connected when I bought the car. My car barely runs when I have the box connected, barely idles and misses really bad when driving.

 

I have mine directly to the battery (+) and (-) wires, the big red and big black wires. Your fine connecting them to the solenoid.

 

Thanks, thats what I figured, but wasnt if constant power was bad for the unit.

 

MSD says you need near perfect connections and not to add any more wire than you have to. I experienced a similar problem awhile back and had to replace the whole box. Then today due to the a loose wire...barely loose...it wouldn't crank.

 

Well took the msd box to the shop tested it and it was fine. Went back home rehooked it up but with lot better ground. It started firing before the starter took a ####! Now im waiting for a replacement so ill keep you guys informed. thanks for the help