Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

MSD Failure?

Old Jul 5, 2008 | 02:40 PM
  #1  
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From: Monroe,NC
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
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 $$$
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Old Jul 5, 2008 | 10:11 PM
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: MSD Failure?

http://msdignition.com/1troub1.htm
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Old Jul 5, 2008 | 11:08 PM
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From: Northern California
Car: 1985 California Iroc
Engine: HSR ZZ4 0411 swapped
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi
Re: MSD Failure?

15 YEARS! wow, id say you got your $'s worth
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Old Jul 5, 2008 | 11:27 PM
  #4  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: MSD Failure?

My 6A died after about 15 years, too. I don't think it was more than $30 to have it repaired.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 07:33 AM
  #5  
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From: Monroe,NC
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
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.......
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 08:17 AM
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Car: 1990 Nissan 240SX
Engine: GMPP Gen0 350 small block
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: Nissan R200 3.133, Tomei 2-way
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.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 09:36 AM
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From: CPT (Southern Cali)
Car: 09 GSXR/88 iroc/91 RS B4C
Engine: 600cc/l5.7/5.7
Transmission: 6 speed/TH 350/auto
Axle/Gears: 45tooth rear?/3.23/3.42
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
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 01:55 PM
  #8  
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From: Monroe,NC
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
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.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 01:59 PM
  #9  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
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.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 02:02 PM
  #10  
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Car: 1990 Nissan 240SX
Engine: GMPP Gen0 350 small block
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: Nissan R200 3.133, Tomei 2-way
Re: MSD Failure?

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.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #11  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: MSD Failure?

Yeah, but I just stick a spare distributor into the Sun for that. ;-)
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #12  
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From: Monroe,NC
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
Re: MSD Failure?

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