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I have my MS3 grounded to engine. Depending on which manual you look at they have flip flopped over the years between battery and engine block, but I think they currently recommend battery. With that said, I have not noticed a difference either way. I will say though that a huge improvement would be a hall effect 36-1 kit from Full Function Engineering. The refined timing resolution is great, but the noise resistance of a hall sensor is worth it in and of itself.
That FFE 36-1 setup is definitely a nice setup but will try to solve my issue 1st before considering that option. I see from your setup (pretty sweet!) wanting flawless ignition performance..
i have done so may car using the MS ecu and never have triggers problems but i always Power and GND the ECUS straight to the battery also make sure the shields from CAS are ground at one end..
FWIW, I was never able to get my MS3X to work with the stock CAS. I tried all of the following:
- Multiple stock CAS, which worked fine on a factory ECU.
- Adjusted (and readjusted, and readjusted...) the potentiometers on the boards.
- Stock CAS modified for a 24-2 tooth arrangement on one reluctor.
- Brand new shielded cable for both reluctors
- Double checked that the grounds were good.
The only solution for me was a hall sensor. I did a custom setup with a Chevy S10 sensor mounted in place of the air pump and custom wheel and it worked perfectly. The FFE kit looks great but doesn't work with accessories.
I'm just about done designing a bracket that uses the Chevy sensor with a custom wheel, and works with all stock accessories:
As soon as it's done I'm going to release the designs so others can get it produced themselves.
Elturbonitroso - Yes, the shields are grounded at 1 end to the ecu. DIY got back to me suggesting to add the "shunt" resistor between VR1- and VR+ since the lost sync happen the high rpm. The resistors are on order. I'll be moving the GND to the battery. I also have an extra CAS I'll be trying out.
WoundreousBread - Does that setup use the stock ignitors? Can you use the stock Tach? For now I have to keep hope alive I can get things ironed as many have done successfully. I do look forward to your custom setup.
Last edited by Clubuser; Apr 18, 2024 at 05:35 PM.
WoundreousBread - Well I have to keep hope alive I can get things ironed as many have done successfully.
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people who've been able to make it work. I just never really got it figured out for some reason. It could be something specific to my setup, but I know another guy nearby who told me he also tried literally everything and then just ended up buying the FFE kit.
Then again, he also knows a guy (who I sort of know) who just put the MS3X on, adjusted nothing, and has had no issues for years.
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people who've been able to make it work. I just never really got it figured out for some reason. It could be something specific to my setup, but I know another guy nearby who told me he also tried literally everything and then just ended up buying the FFE kit.
Then again, he also knows a guy (who I sort of know) who just put the MS3X on, adjusted nothing, and has had no issues for years.
the VR conditioner circuit on the boards are different on the microsquirt and the Evo lines have a better VR conditioners on the MS3 v3 boards i recommend the FFE wheel setup with a hall effect sensor or change the VR circuit to the one jbperf sell or something similar.
I see from your setup (pretty sweet!) wanting flawless ignition performance.. 
