Author Topic: MSD Ignition Help  (Read 954 times)

Offline bordin34

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MSD Ignition Help
« on: January 09, 2010 - 05:42:22 PM »
I am putting a Summit CD ignition, a re-shelled MSD StreetFire, in my car and am having a problem. Everything is hooked up correctly, but the box isn't receiving a crank trigger signal. The LED lights up about once every revolution or two. The car started once and while cranking the light was flashing a lot it started for about two seconds then stalled. Sometimes the LED doesn't even light up in a couple revolutions. I don't think the distributor is the problem because it was working just fine on my stock ignition. My ground and positive wire as well as my switched positive are fine. Any ideas?

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD




Offline itsfred

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2010 - 06:30:45 PM »
just an idea i had trouble with once. make sure the trigger wires from the pick up are correct. i had a set that the orange wire was backwards on.
  fred

Offline bordin34

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2010 - 08:01:51 PM »
The trigger wires are correct I checked and this same setup was running with a Mallory 6a before it got wet. I am running a stock dizzy with about a .10 gap.

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2010 - 09:01:18 PM »
my bet is a bad MSD , I have seen may fail

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline bordin34

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2010 - 09:10:20 PM »
I tested it by making the trigger wires touch then disconnecting them and it sparked, but not every time. The light did turn on every time I disconnected though.

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD

Offline BB73Challenger

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2010 - 09:54:24 AM »
It seems so hit or miss, I always make a point to check grounds for electrical gremlins like that.

I upped my car's electric useage enough that I went through and added a bunch of ground straps and things of that nature.
Jeff from Cleveland, Ohio

Offline bordin34

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2010 - 05:48:24 PM »
I just checked the gap again to make sure and it is set at .016 and will not get any tighter.

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2010 - 08:13:35 PM »
The gap should be .008

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline bordin34

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Re: MSD Ignition Help
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2010 - 03:30:51 PM »
I finally got it to work, i pried on the pickup while tightening the screw and got the right gap.

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD