Help with BAD New MSD 6AL Box

Clois Harlan · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 08:33 AM

Here is the problem: Replaced MSD 6AL box last weekend actually just unplugged the old one and plugged in the new box. Old 6AL box had been in the car for over two years without a any problems until a few weeks ago when I had a grounding issue.

I purchased a new 00 gauge battery ground cable and bolted it to the frame and the MSD 6AL ground cable. I drove the Cobra last Friday to work only to find that at 5:00 when I was leaving it wouldn’t start. Starter would spin like crazy but no fire. So I called my wife and she came to get me and we went after my truck and picked up my trailer, then came back up to the office at 7:00 to haul the Cobra home. I had the Cobra parked on the 6th level so I was going to have to get it rolling to get it outside of the garage where I had parked my trailer. I had it facing downhill so I posted my wife at the exit with my parking card and she was to activate the gate when she saw me coming that way I could just roll it through the gate and into my trailer. So, as I was rolling it through the garage I decided to turn on the key fuel, fan, put it in gear and see if it would start, it did. Now I am confused why it started at all if the box is bad.

I am running a MSD FE Distributor, Coil, and MSD 6al box and the distributor instructions indicates that it must be ran in conjunction with the MSD 6 box. When troubleshooting the box according to the MSD instructions, I do not get a spark to the coil. However, as I understand my Cobra should not have started if the box was bad in a rolling start.

Any ideas out there?

Clois

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 09:33 AM

You might have a bad ignition switch Clois. Check the source for the small red wire for the MSD

keithw · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 09:47 AM

I had exactly the same problem on my green Cobra. Real pain in the ass. Never knew if it was going to start or not. Finally sent the distributor, MSD 6AL and coil back to MSD. They put a new mag pickup in it and replaced the coil. Very fast and only charged for return shipping.

Keith

Clois Harlan · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 11:16 AM

Keith,

How long did it take them to get it back to you? You we have that Road America Race September 4, 2003 and I don't want to waste my $500 entrance fee.

By the way I bought a new Ford F-250 Diesel 4X4. I love it! Drives as quiet as my Expedition and you don't even know you have a trailer behind you. Sharon even likes to drive it.

Clois

keithw · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 11:28 AM

Less than a week. Call them up.

Nice move on the diesel.

Thanks for the card.

Keith

Clois Harlan · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 01:23 PM

Thanks Keith,

I just got off the phone w/ the MSD tech and he said take the box back to where I bought it. So I call O'Reilly and they told me to bring it back and they would give me another.

Clois

P.S.- Your Welcome...

JS · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2003, 02:37 PM

I thought I had the same problem with a box, but it turned out to be the Blaster Coil made in Mexico. In fact, I had two brand new Blasters that were bad right out of the box.

The problem was intermitant, because if you thumped the coil once or twice, it would fire right up.

So now I carry a spare Autolite(sp?) coil in the trunk just in case the third Blaster goes bad.

PS - Why do I still run the Blaster... wife bought it on-line and lost the receipt.