Help! Possible MSD6AL Failure?

[70sixpkrt]

Does this sound like my MP MSD6AL went south. I drove the car Sunday and it ran fine. Went to start it today and no spark. I hooked up my test light to the wires going to the MSD dist. and positive. Hook up the test light to the red wire from the MSD 6AL to the battery and positive. Hook up the test light to the positive side of the coil and nothing. By positive I mean the test light lit up. Does the MSD 6AL feed the coil with current? When I do these test the ignition switch is on. Could my problem be inside my MSD dist. like the Magnetic Pick Up or the MSD 6AL unit?

[VPFD13]

What type of distributor are you running?

[firefighter3931]

Ricky, were you cranking the engine when you tested the + side of the coil ? The distributor sends a signal to the box which in turn sends a signal to the coil.


Ron

[70sixpkrt]

Ron no I was not cranking the engine while testing the coil. I will try that later. I might go later to the local speed shop to pick up a new magnetic pick up for the distributer just to see if that is the problem.

[VPFD13]

Ron no I was not cranking the engine while testing the coil. I will try that later. I might go later to the local speed shop to pick up a new magnetic pick up for the distributer just to see if that is the problem.

Thats what happened to me. I drove it home parked it the next day nothing changed the pick up and it was all good.

[firefighter3931]

Swapping the pickup is pretty easy to do....make sure you gap it at .008 and use a brass feeler guage. 

Let us know how it turns out 



Ron

[70sixpkrt]

I just installed a new pick up. Still no saprk. I'm going to bring my unit to the local speed shop. They have a tester there.

[vegasmike]

if it is a msd distributer,,change the cap.inside the cap there is that element chingus  :eek2:thing were the coil wire goes

[70sixpkrt]

I have changed the magnetic pick, coil, ballast res., and checked the msd unit and still no spark. I'm wondering if something got loose under the dash.

[tecmopar]

First off, never use any test equipment at the coil terminals, these have much higher voltage then stock 12V and it can cook the coil or your tester. To test the box its really pretty simple, first remove the coil wire from the cap and set it some where so it is about 3/8 to 1/2" away from ground and unplug the pickup wires from the distributor, next take a small piece of heavy wire and strip both ends to use as a jumper, with the key in the ON position short the Violet and Green pick-up wires inside the connector with the jumper. Each time you break this short a spark should jump from the coil wire to ground, if nothing then try a different coil, if still nothing recheck ALL of your wiring and make sure there is 12V to the small Red wire with the key On, if there is then the box is bad. ALL of this is assuming that it is wired correctly, good luck.

[firefighter3931]

I have changed the magnetic pick, coil, ballast res., and checked the msd unit and still no spark. I'm wondering if something got loose under the dash.

Ricky, check the small red wire for power with the key in the foward/run position. This wire tells the MSD box to power itself up....basicly a trigger wire.



Ron

[70sixpkrt]

Well after 3 days of checking and replacing parts I ended up finding the problem with the help of 2 friends. It ended up being the wire popped out alittle bit from the black plastic terminal from the harness of the MSD. 

[firefighter3931]

Glad you got it fixed ! 

Aren't electrical gremlins fun ? 


Ron

[70sixpkrt]

I hate electrical problems. I feel like a fool.

[firefighter3931]

No need to feel that way....we've all  been there at one point or another. 

Thanks for posting the outcome....it will help someone else who's in the same boat ! 

Relax and have a cold one  you deserve it 



Ron

[tecmopar]

Ron is right on about electrical problems, not a Mopar but for over 2 months now we have been trying to figure out whats wrong with my '94 Cougar and its way to nice to just junk it. This thing just runs when it feels like it and doesn't when it don't. Ford has gone over it for 3 days and can't find what it is. New IAC, New MAF because this is what the scan tools are telling them is bad, but, after new parts it still does what it wants and if you've ever seen the wiring in one of these its a complete nightmare. I can just sense that its a bad wire somewhere but doubt I'll ever find it. I'm going today to look at an '87 Diplomat because I can't deal with these computer marvels anymore.

[VPFD13]

No need to feel that way....we've all  been there at one point or another. 

Thanks for posting the outcome....it will help someone else who's in the same boat ! 

Relax and have a cold one  you deserve it 

At least it didnt eat to much of your money, It just goes to show you some time it just takes another set of eyes, A set of eye that arnt already frustrated. But I am glod it worked out for ya.



Ron