So, my 4th, yes 4th, MSD digital 6 plus failed the other day. I really don't like to badmouth products, but I have given it more than an ample chance, what can I say?

The boxes usually last for about 1 year (2000 miles about), then fail completely. I have checked and double checked wiring as well. Grounds good, connections ohm zero indicating nothing improper.

Each time the box has failed I have asked for a report on what the failure mode was. Each time it has been a different issue.

This last box MSD tech sent me a capacitor to eliminate the potential of a voltage spike hurting the box. Apparently this did not do the trick.

FWIW, I have MSD 8.5 mm superconductors, MSD coil, MSD billet distributor, and even the MSD connector harness they recommend. So, IMO, this is not a compatability issue. No other electrical products on the car have failed with exception of the alternator which was replaced with a brand new GM unit.

I also have placed a thermocouple next to the box to check for heat soak. The temperature at the box was approx. 20 degrees above ambient; hardly excessive. The box was also mounted in the provided rubber isolation mounts.

Am I missing something fellas? Say it isn't so?

 

I hearalot of people having problems with them when heat, mostiure or vibration gets to them.

 

Heat: 20 degrees above ambient max.
Moisture: My car hasn't seen rain in five years
Vibration: I mounted it in the provided rubber mounts.

 

Dunno about you, but if those listed problems are common, it'd throw up a huge red flag for me. Come on now, heat, moisture AND vibration? They did design them to go in a car, right? These things sound like they'd be right at home in an air conditioned museum under sealed glass.

 

The rule stands for any eletronic device. Ever wonder why your pc computer parts are inside of a sealed box with internal fans cooling them? It sounds like GofasterFirebird did his best to take care of it so the next step is troubleshooting failures. Its hard to say what caused the issue without some technical troubleshooting.

This page has more info then I can type. I would just go through it like a check list. You may have already been through it but here is the link anyway.

http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/6520_frm19831.pdf

 

Redbird,

Thanks for the link. MSD tech and I have spent alot of time on the phone. (well, me more time due to hold times) Me with my DVM in one hand and my phone in the other. No luck.

I am, on the other hand, quite astute at swapping ignition boxes!

 

np, Check out this thread if you havnt already.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=324148

 

I've seen a digital 6 go bad on a friend's car. I've had the 6a and 6al and crane hi-6 boxes for years with no problems.

Maybe you just got a bad batch of resistors/boxes? Give mallory a try, I wouldn't mess with msd anymore if I were you.

 

i am using the same box and have never had a prob. i mounted my box inside the car dont know if that has helped me or not just a suggestion. p.s. makes it easier to make adjustments from the drivers seat.

 

I assume you are using one of the older fully analog boxes. I talked to some people that repair these boxes and the digital 6 did not come highly recommended.

 

My first digital 6 failed shortly after the install. Sent it back to MSD and they gave me a new replacement. I don't know what caused the issue to begin with, but I didn't care because I got a new replacement. The new box has seen some rain and I mounted mine next to where my battery use to be, using the hardware provided by MSD.

I don't have a monster cam, but my entire car shakes at idle, so vibration isn't an issue with my setup.

No issues up to this point and it has been well over 3 years and over 5K miles.

 

I have the MSD 6A on my car and have had no problems for 14 years. Now when I was doing dyno tuning I disconnected the 6A to see what would happen. Near as I could tell there was not more than a 2 horsepower change between the factory unit and the MSD 6A. Bottom line is if mine goes out I will not replace it. I did not see much of an advantage over the factory unit and it is not worth the posible reliability problems over the minimal horsepower gains. I like the KISS principle.

 

i still havent found out whats wrong with my car. i still think that its is the msd box. onces i get some spare money, im going to order the mallory box but this time im going to mount it inside the car. im done with msd boxes. ive gone through 2 boxes in less than 200 miles. everyone ive talked to says that they are crap. im just getting really fustrated but thats the only thing that i can think of.

 

I've got a Crane Hi-6 and it seems to like the abuse I deal it. In the engine compartment not rubber isolated. 3 years and no problems.

 

chances are, your getting just crap issues... from someone who had one, i was told that it was a surface mount issue - basically crap manufacturing.

MSD has had LOTS of problems - i recieved two bum boxes out of the packaging... if thats any indication to ya!

finally i sent both boxes back and had two brand new ones sent to me. the first one has worked fine, i don't know about the second one, i'm probably just gonna try to sell it... if the one i have that works good, goes bad, i can plug my old 6a box back in...

i had to swap boxes so often, and because my box is located inside the car under the pass dash, i finally put gold bullet connectors on everything so they are quickly swappable...

 

Might be something specific to your ignition system, otherwise the vast majority would be reporting the same thing.

How old is the rest of your ignition system? (distributor, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, etc) Maybe something with one of those things or something going on in your car's enviornment that is causing them to fail repeatedly.

 

no, really, the dig 6 boxes have been a real problem.... it's too bad - they got a bad rap early, and havent sold too well as a result, thus many people never made the logical upgrade from the al box to the dig + box... it's got some great features, but so long as it works, i'll be fine i guess lol

 

L98, the rest of the ignition system is 3-5 months old. New billet MSD distributor, superconductor wires, etc. It's all new; all MSD!!!! I literally swapped all the ignition parts during my time of having an MSD digital 6.


BTW, MSD repaired the box but is refusing to do it free of charge due to them changing computer systems and not having a dated record of when that box shipped to me. They claim "you need a receipt." I told them "I don't have a receipt, because this box is also a warranty box."

The date of manufacture on this box is september 2004. They are blowing me crap for one month or less from when I shipped it in, one month or less, of warranty!!! The warranty does cover from the date of customer receipt, so I should be fine, but still, if you were a company wouldn't you just say "Well, the box is only 13 months old, we'll still warranty it, we stand behind our products"? This doesn't inspire confidence if they are being so strict with warranty claims on this box.