I have done the msd install 3 times now with 3 coils. I am certain that it is done correctly. Absolutely certain. I have had three other people who have done this install look at it. Have tried a known good 6al and a new from box 6a. Have swapped wires and I am certain the dizzy wires are making contact.

At this point what the hell is keeping this from fireing.

If I take it out yes the car runs.

I have installed msd at least 100 times in my lifetime. I am stumped.

 

1st, did you hook-up the MSD's thin red wire (your ON and OFF switch) to an ignition wire?

 

yes I did. And thick red to batt and ground is good.

 

wacky is actually the Guru on Msd installs, not me. :-)

 

at this point I am looking for something outside the msd box itself and the coils that could be causing this. I am stumped.

 

ahhh pftt. Just ordered some other ignition products. I have to see if I am crazy or not. Anyone ever use a jegs dis 2 post coil for this. hmmm. I am stumped anyone have any input.

 

If you're getting voltage to the small thin wire (using a test light or similar method) but not getting spark, you have to ground the white wire IIRC (check the MSD book to be sure).

 

yeah I checked by tapping the grn purp wires together and msd seems to be good. When this install is done do use the homemade clips or go into the dist and cut wires. I am tring not to hack anything here.

 

wait your saying to grnd the white wire for this application? The white wire from the msd I was told is not used in this app. we are talking about the white for the old points pickup from the msd?

 

ive tried MSD's GM DIS coil and it doesn't work well at all w/ the 6AL. one post will fire properly while the other post will fire very sparatic. i was quite disapointed, especially after i made a mounting braket and new plug wires for it

 

ok, Im running out of ideas since we didnt get the complete picture.
Is there spark when you ground the spark plug wire?

 

Sorry ok.

Thick Red from MSD to Batt
thick Black to Bat -
Thin Red to Ignition + (this does has power when key is on)
Green to red on dizzy
violet on msd to grn on dizzy
orange on msd to + on coil 1 +
Blk msd to coil 1 -
Ciol 1 + to coil 2 +
Coil 1 - to Coil 2 -

MSD test good touching leads together
Have pulse at coil
Have no spark to plugs
But I have tested with blaster 2 and blaster 3 and accell
have 2 sets of wires tested

No good spark motor will not turn over.

Put back to stock works fine.

thanks in advance.

 

I don't know if this is gonna help.

But you could try: Instead of hooking up the black ground the the negitive on the battery (I know that the negative terminal on the battery is grounded to the frame) try grounding it at another location.

Worth a try maybe?

 

much better bro. Now, you said no spark when you ground the spark plug right? here is from MSD
Magnetic Pickup Trigger:
If you are using the 2-Pin Magnetic Pickup of the MSD to trigger the ignition, follow these steps.

1. Make sure the ignition switch is in the Off position.

2. Remove the coil wire from the distributor cap and position the terminal so it is approximately 1/2" from a good ground.

3. Disconnect the MSD Magnetic Pickup connector from the distributor.

4. Turn the ignition to the On position. DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE.

5. With a small jumper wire, short the Green and Violet magnetic pickup wires together then pull the jumper off. Each time the short is removed a spark should jump If spark is present, the ignition is working properly.
If there is no spark:

A. Inspect all of the wiring.

B. Substitute another coil and test again. If there is now spark, the coil is at fault.

C. If there is still no spark, check to make sure there is 12 volts on the small Red wire from the MSD when the key is in the On position. If 12 volts are not present, find another 12 volt source and repeat the test.

D. After inspecting the test procedures and inspecting all of the wiring, there is still no spark, the Ignition is at fault. See the Warranty and Service Page for Information.

 

ok last think on this and I am trying the jacobs.

Should I be taking the trigger from the ignitor or from before the ignitor

I see that on the write-up for this the ignitor is removed.

I am not getting trigger from the dizzy.

So therefore no spark.

The car is an 84 gls-se

 

the Jacobs takes it's pickup after the ignitor before the coil. At least that is what I am told. And the msd takes it before the ignitor. Or so I am told.

 

sorry bro Im not familiar with jacobs ignition

 

I found my problem. Had a long conversation with Dre at MSD he is a first gen guru at MSD and was kind enough to take my call.

I do not have enough output from my dist to run the msd. Ie bad pickup signal. He advised me that it is fine to run after ignitor using the white wire and additionally recommened using the second gen coil for best results.

 

guess I should have made this call days ago.

 

Im dont think this will help, but the msd takes the trigger from before the igniter, like previously stated.


The msd box becomes the igniter.

 

what would make the output from the dist weak?

weak battery, bad alt?

 

Looking at that now. I guess all cars are different. Even when they are the same. Alt checks good. And batt is at full charge, with all the starting have been keeping a trickle charger on it. Don't have a spare dizzy, so I am not sure at this point.

 

Did you try a new rotor/cap? That may help too.

 

ok well from what I can tell someone did some re-wiring at some point. Who knows the dizzy well. I have what appears to be a tapped wire on the leading coil blue and pink. Anyone know what that is. Also with a meter should all both leading and trailing wires to the coils have no resistance? At this point I am ready to try and see if some knucklehead has the backwards or some stupid crap. I have 3 wires on the leading coil neg side. black and a green and blk on a quick connect and also a blue and pink striped wire.

 

I dont think extra wires on the coil should create problems, if the car runs fine without msd?

The cap and rotor shouldnt be in the line fire. Basically the msd install removes the cap and rotor from the equation. for the leading spark that is. while using the direct fire the cap and rotor is only used by the trailing.