07-05-2008, 02:40 PM
#1 Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monroe,NC
Posts: 1,385
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/2.77
MSD Failure?
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 $$$
__________________ Mongoose-1990 Pontiac Formula/305 TPI-700R4
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07-05-2008, 10:11 PM
#2 Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Rio Oro de Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica
Posts: 14,393
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop / 1988 IROC T-top
Engine: 383 Carb / 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60 / T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 / 3.08 10 bolt
Re: MSD Failure?
07-05-2008, 11:08 PM
#3 Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 479
Car: 85 IROC-GTA
Engine: TPI 357
Transmission: GEAR SLAMMING ST10
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Locker
Re: MSD Failure?
15 YEARS! wow, id say you got your $'s worth
07-05-2008, 11:27 PM
#4 Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Rio Oro de Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica
Posts: 14,393
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop / 1988 IROC T-top
Engine: 383 Carb / 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60 / T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 / 3.08 10 bolt
Re: MSD Failure?
My 6A died after about 15 years, too. I don't think it was more than $30 to have it repaired.
07-06-2008, 07:33 AM
#5 Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monroe,NC
Posts: 1,385
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/2.77
Re: MSD Failure?
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.......
07-07-2008, 08:17 AM
#6 Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 74
Re: MSD Failure?
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.
07-07-2008, 09:36 AM
#7 Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CPT (Southern Cali)
Posts: 123
Car: 02 GSXR 1000/88 iroc
Engine: 1000cc/l98
Transmission: 6 speed/TH 350
Axle/Gears: 42 teeth on the bike/? on the iroc
Re: MSD Failure?
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
07-07-2008, 01:55 PM
#8 Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monroe,NC
Posts: 1,385
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/2.77
Re: MSD Failure?
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.
07-07-2008, 01:59 PM
#9 Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Rio Oro de Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica
Posts: 14,393
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop / 1988 IROC T-top
Engine: 383 Carb / 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60 / T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 / 3.08 10 bolt
Re: MSD Failure?
Why bother? That unit costs more than the 6A itself. It would be cheaper to buy a second 6A to swap in.
07-07-2008, 02:02 PM
#10 Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 74
Re: MSD Failure?
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.
07-07-2008, 02:05 PM
#11 Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Rio Oro de Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica
Posts: 14,393
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop / 1988 IROC T-top
Engine: 383 Carb / 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60 / T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 / 3.08 10 bolt
Re: MSD Failure?
Yeah, but I just stick a spare distributor into the Sun for that. ;-)
07-07-2008, 02:05 PM
#12 Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monroe,NC
Posts: 1,385
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/2.77
Re: MSD Failure?
You've got a point, really would be overkill for a street car.
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