MSD Failure? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Mongoose · 07-05-2008, 03:40 PM

I did a search but didn't find a definitive answer. I believe my MSD6AL died today after 15 years of service. The car just died quietly doing about 50mph through town this morning and would not start but acted like it wanted to once. I just got this car back on the road from a similar situation of ignition problems that I thought were resolved. I swapped the connectors and took the MSD out of line and it started on the first try. The question, is there any way to test a 6AL box without sending it back and spending $$$

Apeiron · 07-05-2008, 11:11 PM

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

vasquezmrysvll · 07-06-2008, 12:08 AM

15 YEARS! wow, id say you got your $'s worth

Apeiron · 07-06-2008, 12:27 AM

My 6A died after about 15 years, too. I don't think it was more than $30 to have it repaired.

Mongoose · 07-06-2008, 08:33 AM

I tried the white wire trigger method with no results yesterday so after reading the info on the link provided by Aperion it's pretty much dead. With it being 15 years old and the fact that the rev limiter never worked since new I'll just replace it. That new 6AL-2 looks interesting.......

kennn · 07-07-2008, 09:17 AM

I would try to contact MSD first and see if there's anything they can do to help you out, but I doubt you will get anything fruitful after this long.

This is a good tool to test the full range of the box: http://msdignition.com/tool_3.htm

I'm waiting for the new 6 box that you can tune with a laptop. Who knows when that will come out

Good luck.

godreject · 07-07-2008, 10:36 AM

glad i found this thread, had a similar problem with my msd 6al, after havign the car sit for over a year the car won't start with the box conected, as soon i disconnect it car will turn on just fine, i'l be sure to try and troubleshoot thanks 4 the info

Mongoose · 07-07-2008, 02:55 PM

This is a good tool to test the full range of the box: http://msdignition.com/tool_3.htm
[/quote]

I might have to pick one of those up along with the replacement 6A box.

Apeiron · 07-07-2008, 02:59 PM

Why bother? That unit costs more than the 6A itself. It would be cheaper to buy a second 6A to swap in.

kennn · 07-07-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apeiron

That unit costs more than the 6A itself. It would be cheaper to buy a second 6A to swap in.

You are correct. It's only if you need to test the full RPM range of the box to make sure all of your lights and RPM switches work correctly.

Apeiron · 07-07-2008, 03:05 PM

Yeah, but I just stick a spare distributor into the Sun for that. ;-)

Mongoose · 07-07-2008, 03:05 PM

You've got a point, really would be overkill for a street car.