[HotRodJoe]

Joe A,

I don't understand you not having 12V on the little red wire when the ignition is on. That should come directly off of the ignition (or maybe through a fuse if you wired it that way). Is the unit turning on (humming)? If not, I wonder if you have it coming off the right place on your ignition switch. Have you pulled the little red wire off and verified that you have 12V at the switch where you are hooking it up? If you don't, you won't have 12V to a new MSD box, either!

Just realized that you are using your car's wiring going to the little red wire...either way, I'd trace that back and see if it is ever getting 12V to it. If you don't get that, you're never turning the unit on. Possibly just bypass the car wiring and go directly to the ignition switch and see (should be long enough, unless you cut it).

I just have a feeling the unit is never getting switched on through your ignition, and therefore you would have basically zero volts everywhere except the big red wire (which is what it sounds like you have).

Joe