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Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? #1285342 08/14/12 04:15 PM 08/14/12 04:15 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 561 Oakland, CA 68Bullet OP mopar
68Bullet OP mopar Joined: May 2003 Posts: 561 Oakland, CA	Hey everyone. I'm running a 383 with a typical electronic ignition setup. It's a factory single pickup distributor and an MP orange box. I am using a factory ballast resistor. No problems for years. Recently though, the car started having some difficulties starting up. It would crank with no results, but sometimes when I let go of the key the engine would start up. I suspected it wasn't getting power while cranking, so I had a friend hold a multimeter on the coil. I am getting about 8 volts key on, and 12 volts while cranking. However, I am still having intermittent startup issues (doesn't do it every time, but acts up more so when hot). Is it possible the orange box can be getting power but not triggering the spark? Does a warm engine bay effect the box? "Broke is temporary, cheap lasts forever"

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 68Bullet] #1285343 08/14/12 04:18 PM 08/14/12 04:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,943 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,943 Grand Prairie,Texas	Orange boxes are know to be junk. You'll be better off going back to a stock box. They actually work better.

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: stumpy] #1285344 08/14/12 05:24 PM 08/14/12 05:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md 3 383man Too Many Posts
383man Too Many Posts 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md	If you have an older orange they work fine. I bought mine in 2002 and it is still working fine on my 63. It works good enough to run 10's without missing a beat. But the box is not your problem. The ign switch bypasses the ballast while cranking and supplies the coil and orange ECU voltage while cranking. If I would suspect anything I would think the ign switch may be your problem. Did you check the voltage at the coil and ECU when it would not start or was it starting ok when you checked it ? Ron

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 68Bullet] #1285345 08/14/12 05:27 PM 08/14/12 05:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,565 tennessee P pushbutton pro stock
pushbutton pro stock P Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,565 tennessee	Make sure the box has a good ground. Tighten or twist the bolts back and forth. I've had that type of problem and it was a ground issue. Also check the ballast resitor.

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 383man] #1285346 08/14/12 06:03 PM 08/14/12 06:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,255 IL furious70 top fuel
furious70 top fuel Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,255 IL	Quote: If you have an older orange they work fine. I bought mine in 2002 and it is still working fine on my 63. It works good enough to run 10's without missing a beat. But the box is not your problem. The ign switch bypasses the ballast while cranking and supplies the coil and orange ECU voltage while cranking. If I would suspect anything I would think the ign switch may be your problem. Did you check the voltage at the coil and ECU when it would not start or was it starting ok when you checked it ? Ron I'm with Ron, no fire when cranking but tries to catch when you let off the key is usually a telltale sign of the ign switch. 70 Sport Fury 68 Charger 69 Coronet 72 RR

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 383man] #1285347 08/14/12 06:24 PM 08/14/12 06:24 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	Quote: If you have an older orange they work fine. I bought mine in 2002 and it is still working fine on my 63. It works good enough to run 10's without missing a beat. But the box is not your problem. The ign switch bypasses the ballast while cranking and supplies the coil and orange ECU voltage while cranking. If I would suspect anything I would think the ign switch may be your problem. Did you check the voltage at the coil and ECU when it would not start or was it starting ok when you checked it ? Ron makes alot of sense

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: mikemee1331] #1285348 08/14/12 07:42 PM 08/14/12 07:42 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 561 Oakland, CA 68Bullet OP mopar
68Bullet OP mopar Joined: May 2003 Posts: 561 Oakland, CA	I also suspected the ign switch. That is why I had my friend use a multimeter to check voltage at the coil positive terminal while cranking. He read a full 12 volts at the coil while cranking, but no spark. That is why I suspect the orange box. However, it is sounding like it could also be the coil too..... "Broke is temporary, cheap lasts forever"

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 68Bullet] #1285349 08/15/12 10:36 AM 08/15/12 10:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,051 The Great White North RAMM super stock
RAMM super stock Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,051 The Great White North	Probably pick-up coil. J.Rob 2009 PHR\EMC Competitor 2010 PHR\EMC Competitor 2011 PHR\EMC Competitor 2012 PHR\EMC Competitor 2013 PHR\EMC Competitor 2014 HotRod/EMC Competitor 2015 HotRod/EMC NoShow 2016 HotRod/EMC 3rd place SPEC Bigblock 2018 HotRod/EMC 7th place G3

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: RAMM] #1285350 08/15/12 11:17 AM 08/15/12 11:17 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	My vote: pickup coil or ECU live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Orange box doesn't provide spark while cranking? [Re: 68Bullet] #1285351 08/15/12 11:24 AM 08/15/12 11:24 AM
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 5,399 Aurora, Colorado 451Mopar master
451Mopar master Joined: May 2008 Posts: 5,399 Aurora, Colorado	That is the typical symptom of bad grounding. Run a ground wire from the ignition box to the engine block,and check the battery cables for good connections.

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