Is it possible for a failing (wiring under the reluctor going out, etc.) pick-up coil to effect the actual firing voltage at the coil and plugs? I realize that this isn't the spark coil, I'm just getting what appears to be low voltage readings from the coil output wire (coil to distributor) and the spark plug wires. All wires are new and presumably good quality (Moroso). My coil output voltage is between 21-27,000 volts, and the voltage on the plug wires is only 6-9,000 volts. These numbers were measured with an actron peak kV meter. The car has an MSD 6AL BTM box. Do these numbers sound normal to you? The coil is new, too. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

The MSD box will fire when the voltage on the reluctor signal crosses something like +0.3v in the positive direction.

 

That I did not know. But, hypothetically, if the connections (green and white wires) weren't in good shape, could the spark coil pulses actually be weakened by a weak pick-up coil or damaged reluctor? My coil, cap, rotor, and wires are all new, and given the extravagant claims of many ignition manufacturers, the voltage numbers I got that day seemed low. The car is supercharged, and I fear "flame out" once I hit boost if the numbers I'm seeing on those wires are somewhere near accurate. Thanks for your input.

 

No, it'll either fire or not. All the juice comes from the capacitor in the box and the coil, the reluctor just triggers it to fire.

 

6-9K along a plug wire is totally normal. If you give the throttle a quick snap you should see voltage jump up into the 15K range, give or take, and then settle back down again as RPMs stabilize. You will only EVER see as much voltage going down that wire as it takes to physically jump the gap of the plug. Beyond that it's all about amperage and how long it will keep the spark kernel lit.

See why "high voltage" ignitions are mostly marketing hype? In reality it takes very little voltage to get the job done- total spark energy is what really matters most.

A pickup coil can't affect coil output but it can sure cause it's own set of problems!

 

I had heard words to that effect before, but it truly is difficult to sort through fluff to find the facts. That definitely clears up more than a few things for me. Thanks for the responses.