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Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572563 02/04/14 05:14 PM 02/04/14 05:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	Hi I'm new and this is my first post so I hope I can help you. On points cars there is one wire on one side of the ballast resister which is hot when the key is on. There are two wires on the other side of resister. One to the coil the other goes to the starter. When you turn the key to start the one wire goes dead and the one from the starter bypasses the resister to give 12 volts for starting. When you release the key that wire goes dead and the single wire goes back to hot. On my 70 cuda I just made a jumper across the resister so it didn't matter which one was hot and when the car starts it bypasses the resister. I think you will find the wire you're hooked up to will go dead when you turn the key to start and on mine the dead brown wire becomes hot.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: an8sec70cuda] #1572564 02/04/14 05:17 PM 02/04/14 05:17 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT GTX MATT master
GTX MATT master Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT	Quote: A friend of mine can't login for some reason and asked me to post this for you... The problem may be you have the hot ignition wire for the msd hooked up to the hot wire on the ballast resistor. On the cars running points the hot wire goes dead when you turn the key to start and the second wire on the ballast resistor becomes hot 12 volts bypassing the resister to points for starting and the other wire goes dead. When you let go of the key the second wire (brown on mine) goes dead and the (blue on mine ) goes back to hot. The brown and coil wire are crimped together on the dead side of the resister. I just made a jumper across my resister so it doesn't matter which wire is hot. This was only on points cars and the other wire gets it power right off the starter. Maybe you can pass this along. He's been trying for several days. Thanks, Mike This is a very good point Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: GTX MATT] #1572565 02/04/14 05:27 PM 02/04/14 05:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,376 St. Charles, MO wingman Uncreative Title
wingman Uncreative Title Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,376 St. Charles, MO	Quote: Quote: A friend of mine can't login for some reason and asked me to post this for you... The problem may be you have the hot ignition wire for the msd hooked up to the hot wire on the ballast resistor. On the cars running points the hot wire goes dead when you turn the key to start and the second wire on the ballast resistor becomes hot 12 volts bypassing the resister to points for starting and the other wire goes dead. When you let go of the key the second wire (brown on mine) goes dead and the (blue on mine ) goes back to hot. The brown and coil wire are crimped together on the dead side of the resister. I just made a jumper across my resister so it doesn't matter which wire is hot. This was only on points cars and the other wire gets it power right off the starter. Maybe you can pass this along. He's been trying for several days. Thanks, Mike This is a very good point I wonder over the years how many mopar guys hooking up an MSD for the first time made this mistake. I know I did. 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 A4 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 440 FC7 (sold)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: wingman] #1572566 02/04/14 06:45 PM 02/04/14 06:45 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx hemi68charger OP master
hemi68charger OP master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx	Quote: ... I wonder over the years how many mopar guys hooking up an MSD for the first time made this mistake. I know I did. Wow !!!! I may have been the next victim... I COMPLETELY understand were you're coming from. And to think, I already have a ballast resistor that was "bypassed" for my Pertronix I was running on the car. I just followed the instructions and disregarded the ballast all together, thinking, as it has been eluded to, the 12v feed to the ballast resistor was ALWAY hot. Sort of confused though on the triggering when I ground the white wire and it working. Is it because I'm not sitting in the driver's seat going to ignition 2 and thus initiating the starter and thus, power on the one blue ballast resistor goes dead........ Lordy, if this is the cast, then I knew it, it had to be an easy fix. Guess when I get home I will attempt this once again. I'll put the ballast resistor I have back on ( that's had a solid wire soldered into place for bypassing ) and just "t" off one of the leads for my red 12v MSD feed,,,,, crossing my fingers....... Thanks for the input.. Troy Houston Mopar Connection Club '69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572567 02/04/14 07:09 PM 02/04/14 07:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	Yes it's because you're not turning the key. Thanks to Chip for posting this for me when I couldn't log in. I hope this solves you're problem. And yes I only know this because I did the same thing years ago.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: second 70] #1572568 02/04/14 07:32 PM 02/04/14 07:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx hemi68charger OP master
hemi68charger OP master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx	Quote: Yes it's because you're not turning the key. Thanks to Chip for posting this for me when I couldn't log in. I hope this solves you're problem. And yes I only know this because I did the same thing years ago. Now, of course, curiousity will cause me to experiment. When I get home, I will put a test light now on the blue terminal plug I had for the 12v MSD feed and watching ( with anticipation ), the light go off when I put the key into ignition 2 ( engaging the starter ). Thanks Chip... Troy Houston Mopar Connection Club '69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572569 02/04/14 07:34 PM 02/04/14 07:34 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT GTX MATT master
GTX MATT master Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT	Quote: Quote: Yes it's because you're not turning the key. Thanks to Chip for posting this for me when I couldn't log in. I hope this solves you're problem. And yes I only know this because I did the same thing years ago. Now, of course, curiousity will cause me to experiment. When I get home, I will put a test light now on the blue terminal plug I had for the 12v MSD feed and watching ( with anticipation ), the light go off when I put the key into ignition 2 ( engaging the starter ). Thanks Chip... Let us know how it runs Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: GTX MATT] #1572570 02/04/14 08:15 PM 02/04/14 08:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx hemi68charger OP master
hemi68charger OP master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx	In hindsight this all makes sense now. I recently installed a MSD 6AL on my friend's 71 Challenger R/T without a problem, fired right up!! Actually was sort of proud of myself. I thought my current problem with my situation might have been the distributor. Truth be hopefully known, now I believe it was the fact I made the ballast resistor a complete circuit by bypassing it in the rear with a solid wire. I overcame, unknowing to me at the time, the issue of the blue wire dying with the engine is cranking. With the bypass, the circuit there had a continuous 12v feed and thus, VAROOOM !! when we fired it up for the first time. Almost home.. Troy Houston Mopar Connection Club '69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: GTX MATT] #1572571 02/04/14 11:46 PM 02/04/14 11:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx hemi68charger OP master
hemi68charger OP master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx	Quote: ... Let us know how it runs WooHoo !!!! I put my modified ballast resistor ( bypassed with a 12 gauge wire in the back ) on the car and plugged the 12v MSD ignition feed into it..... One crank, VARROOOMMMM !!!! and purring like a kitten...... Thanks everyone....... Now I need to figure out where I want to permanently mount the MSD box ( probably in the nose somewhere ). Troy Houston Mopar Connection Club '69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: SSAAHemiFan] #1572572 02/05/14 12:21 AM 02/05/14 12:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,195 Harrisburg, Pa. screamindriver master
screamindriver master Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,195 Harrisburg, Pa.	Quote: If so verify you have 12V at the switched source while cranking and when the key is released This was the first reply to your thread.....But don't feel bad I think the ballast wiring gets everyone on the first time...It's something you won't forget the second time around,,,

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572573 02/05/14 12:30 AM 02/05/14 12:30 AM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	Glad we could help. While you were starting your car I walked past the hemi and started the snowblower. LOL I'm coming to SW Texas next week so try and repay the favor with some warm weather.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572574 02/05/14 06:41 PM 02/05/14 06:41 PM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California mickm master
mickm master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California	Quote: WooHoo !!!! I put my modified ballast resistor ( bypassed with a 12 gauge wire in the back ) on the car and plugged the 12v MSD ignition feed into it..... One crank, VARROOOMMMM !!!! and purring like a kitten...... Thanks everyone....... Now I need to figure out where I want to permanently mount the MSD box ( probably in the nose somewhere ). glad it worked out! i would suggest in the passenger compartment, just to be safe. i have been going through a lot of issues with mine, that while not conclusive are most likely related to RF. mine is mounted below the battery tray, and i may end up moving it inside.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: mickm] #1572575 02/05/14 07:15 PM 02/05/14 07:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	Hey MICKM, I was having all kinds of weird problems with my digital 6AL-2 on my hemi cuda. IT was driving me nuts. Sometimes it was fine next time it would act up. It was mounted in the car under dash on the passenger side. Tried everything. It turned out it was the tach! It was only a year old but I replaced it with an auto meter and all problems went away. After fixing mine I've heard of several others having the same problem.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: second 70] #1572576 02/05/14 07:35 PM 02/05/14 07:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx hemi68charger OP master
hemi68charger OP master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,827 Houston, Tx	Quote: Hey MICKM, I was having all kinds of weird problems with my digital 6AL-2 on my hemi cuda. IT was driving me nuts. Sometimes it was fine next time it would act up. It was mounted in the car under dash on the passenger side. Tried everything. It turned out it was the tach! It was only a year old but I replaced it with an auto meter and all problems went away. After fixing mine I've heard of several others having the same problem. Mike, was that your factory tach with no modifications? The new MSD 6AL's now have a gray tach lead.... Troy Houston Mopar Connection Club '69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: second 70] #1572577 02/05/14 07:40 PM 02/05/14 07:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,931 P Paul_Fancsali master
Paul_Fancsali master P Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,931	Fix the problem and send back the MSD total waste of money on street car I have had three new ones all took a dump were fixed and worked and quit again or slowed car down by almost .4 of second. No more crap I will use Pertronix or even points until I can't get them any more and I keep a Chrysler electronic set up ready to go again if need be just carry dist in trunk In the last 10 years I have not more then I can say for the MSD and Mopar electronic Ignition. If you race and want all the toy's and like to try to find misses that appear and leave the MSD is way to go

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: hemi68charger] #1572578 02/05/14 07:45 PM 02/05/14 07:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	No. It was a super tach-3. I have a msd tach adapter running the stock tach and the auto meter on the tach lead. Both work fine now.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: Paul_Fancsali] #1572579 02/05/14 07:54 PM 02/05/14 07:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	Quote: Fix the problem and send back the MSD total waste of money on street car I have had three new ones all took a dump were fixed and worked and quit again or slowed car down by almost .4 of second. No more crap I will use Pertronix or even points until I can't get them any more and I keep a Chrysler electronic set up ready to go again if need be just carry dist in trunk In the last 10 years I have not more then I can say for the MSD and Mopar electronic Ignition. If you race and want all the toy's and like to try to find misses that appear and leave the MSD is way to go wierd. i've had the same one in for over 20 years. never had an issue that wasn't my fault and i love the way it 'woke up' the car over a standard MP unit, orange or chrome!

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: second 70] #1572580 02/05/14 07:57 PM 02/05/14 07:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California mickm master
mickm master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,179 California	Quote: Hey MICKM, I was having all kinds of weird problems with my digital 6AL-2 on my hemi cuda. IT was driving me nuts. Sometimes it was fine next time it would act up. It was mounted in the car under dash on the passenger side. Tried everything. It turned out it was the tach! It was only a year old but I replaced it with an auto meter and all problems went away. After fixing mine I've heard of several others having the same problem. herb has been pushing me to try disconnecting the tach, just haven't got to it. i will give that a shot, hopefully this weekend. i have an aftermarket tic-toc-tac, and really want to run that. what if that is the issue? is there something i can do to still run that tach?

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: mickm] #1572581 02/05/14 08:12 PM 02/05/14 08:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il. S second 70 top fuel
second 70 top fuel S Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,696 central il.	Quote: Quote: Hey MICKM, I was having all kinds of weird problems with my digital 6AL-2 on my hemi cuda. IT was driving me nuts. Sometimes it was fine next time it would act up. It was mounted in the car under dash on the passenger side. Tried everything. It turned out it was the tach! It was only a year old but I replaced it with an auto meter and all problems went away. After fixing mine I've heard of several others having the same problem. herb has been pushing me to try disconnecting the tach, just haven't got to it. i will give that a shot, hopefully this weekend. i have an aftermarket tic-toc-tac, and really want to run that. what if that is the issue? is there something i can do to still run that tach? Sorry I don't know anything about that tach and if it needs an adapter or not.

Re: MSD troubleshooting [Re: second 70] #1572582 02/05/14 09:27 PM 02/05/14 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,680 South San Francisco, Ca 70sixpkrt master
70sixpkrt master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,680 South San Francisco, Ca	Mick my stock tic toc tack won't work with out a tack adapter. I instead hooked up a Autometer tack and that works. I have been running the MSD dist. And MSD 6AL for years with no problems. [img]http://www.imgur.com/hxlGUJt.gif[/img] 4-speed 3:54 Dana 13.01 @107.93 with street tires (not hooking up)

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