problem with msd

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blzunt08

New member
I have a 1988 mustang with a carburated 302. Pretty much stock. I went to the gas station last week filled up with gas and the car wouldn't start. No cranking no nothing. tow it home and i figured out that im getting no spark. I get power to my msd but nothing coming out. How often do msd boxes go bad. I bought the car with the msd on it so i don't know how old it is.
 
not uncommon


is it a 6-AL?

I have one new in box(box is open, but never installed) that I can sell you

check the for sale forum
 
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why do you have a 6-AL on a near stock car?

I had the same problem with my MSD (3 times) and finally switched to crane
 
blzunt08 said:
yes its a 6-al
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yeah, MSD boxes failing is not uncommon, I know you can send it to MSD for repair, but not sure on the price, might be more cost effective to buy a new one


make sure you have power to the box on the large red wire(full time), ground on the large black wire, and you should have key on power on the small red wire
 
a HUGE problem with some installs on the MSD analog boxes is when people extend the ground wire. youre not supposed to on those boxes, can cause premature failure.

they do fail quite often and need to be sent back to MSD, i think the average cost is around $100-120 for rebuilds with shipping etc
 
avbcon12 said:
a HUGE problem with some installs on the MSD analog boxes is when people extend the ground wire. youre not supposed to on those boxes, can cause premature failure.

they do fail quite often and need to be sent back to MSD, i think the average cost is around $100-120 for rebuilds with shipping etc
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per the supplied instructions, all wires can be extended as long as the next larger size wire is used, and all connections are soldered and heat shrinked
 
If you read between the lines what this really says is that MSD uses a cheap flyback clamping diode and that why the box's fial to begin with.



avbcon12 said:
a HUGE problem with some installs on the MSD analog boxes is when people extend the ground wire. youre not supposed to on those boxes, can cause premature failure.

they do fail quite often and need to be sent back to MSD, i think the average cost is around $100-120 for rebuilds with shipping etc
Click to expand...
 
from having 3 boxes fail and speaking with MSD directly they said they do not recommend extending the wires. yes, they say go up a size in wire but many people dont.

they use very old and outdated analog technology in these boxes.
 
Braodcast TV comes out of Vaccum Tubes. I know channels 7 and 4 are putting out signal on vaccums tubes my grandfather built when he worked for westinghouse. The analog circut is not the problem. It is the cheap parts and underspecced parts that is.

the MSD 6al schematics are online as well as some circut upgrades to make them more durable.


avbcon12 said:
from having 3 boxes fail and speaking with MSD directly they said they do not recommend extending the wires. yes, they say go up a size in wire but many people dont.

they use very old and outdated analog technology in these boxes.
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im not trying to argue that they do or do not work. Im making the point that for the price of these boxes you can get much better digital boxes for the same money.
 
blzunt08 said:
I have a 1988 mustang with a carburated 302. Pretty much stock. I went to the gas station last week filled up with gas and the car wouldn't start. No cranking no nothing. tow it home and i figured out that im getting no spark. I get power to my msd but nothing coming out. How often do msd boxes go bad. I bought the car with the msd on it so i don't know how old it is.
Click to expand...

if it's not cranking you're not gonna get a spark with a Crane, MSD, Mallory, PerTronix, Accel, or Jacobs lol brand really has no effect here.
 
If it's not cranking as you say, I would test the starter solenoid grab a screwdriver and touch the two big posts with the key on if it starts you need a new one $11.99 at autozone part# F492
 
Had one go out as well (6A). Now I have a brand new 6A never installed but it's of no use because my car is standard now and I need a 6AL. Anybody want to buy a 6A?
 
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