Engine cranks on key, but doesn't start. Starts by short-circuiting the relay

[Ornamental]

The 440 will crank, but not start by twisting the key in the ignition.
However, if I take a screwdriver and short circuit the starter solenoid the engine will fire up pretty much immediately.
I've swapped the starter solenoid without getting any different result. 

The ignition is controlled by a MSD 6AL box.

I'm going slightly mad here. Any suggestions?


Edit: Forgot to mention that the neutral safety switch has been tested OK.

[1 Wild R/T]

Your not getting power to the MSD in the crank position, could be a bad ignition switch....    Where does the MSD get it's switched power from?

[70chall440]

What he said... Just went through this myself.

However, I need to ask; did it start previously or did you just install the MSD? The MSD has to have power on the red w/white tracer in the key on and start positions.

[Ornamental]

The entire wiring is new reproduction from Year One, used to be a POS Painless wiring.

The MSD has been tried powered via the ACC on the fuse box,  no go.
Also tried via the tan three-way outlet in the dash harness, no go.

[70chall440]

The ACC will not work for sure and I don't think the tan 3 way will either. You need to wire it into the brown or blue wires that go to the ballast resistor; as stated you MUST have power in the run and crank positions. In these cars especially with stock or reproduction wiring harness, when you crank the car it cuts power to almost everything.

You need to do some testing or perhaps someone else will chime in. I modified my harness because I am using a Hall Effect distributor and Holley ECU so I do not need the ballast resistor, thus I was able to connect the blue and brown wires and wire my MSD and ECU into them.

[Ornamental]

70chall440, thank you! Good to know, I should be able to make some progress now.

[734406pk]

You will need to connect both the BLUE wire (hot with ignition switch in the "run" position) and the BROWN (hot with ignition switch in the "start" position) together on the engine harness, then connect this spliced pair to the MSD 6AL  RED ignition switch input wire. The ballast resistor not used with the MSD 6AL amplifier. This connection will supply ignition power to the MSD 6AL in both the "run" and "start" switch positions. Good Luck!

[Ornamental]

You will need to connect both the BLUE wire (hot with ignition switch in the "run" position) and the BROWN (hot with ignition switch in the "start" position) together on the engine harness, then connect this spliced pair to the MSD 6AL  RED ignition switch input wire. The ballast resistor not used with the MSD 6AL amplifier. This connection will supply ignition power to the MSD 6AL in both the "run" and "start" switch positions. Good Luck!

Great, thank you! 

I'm away from home now, will be a while until I get able to sort this out, but I think it'll be allright. 

[734406pk]

I hope it works for you.

[70chall440]

It will, I went through the same deal not long ago. I actually removed the harness from the firewall and opened it up and removed the electronic ignition wires as they are no longer needed.

[Ornamental]

It worked! 

Thank you very much 70chall440 and 734406pk!! 

[734406pk]

It worked! 

Thank you very much 70chall440 and 734406pk!!