Orange ECU Box - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Moparts Question and Answer Orange ECU Box

Print Thread

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Orange ECU Box #896733 01/05/11 02:26 PM 01/05/11 02:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY B bobs66440 OP top fuel
bobs66440 OP top fuel B Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY	Sorry if this has been discussed already but... I am running an orange box and have had no trouble with it so far. I have heard however that they are prone to frequent failure and I should carry a spare. I realize having a spare never hurts and will get one, but I was just curious if this rumor is true? Thanks.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: bobs66440] #896734 01/05/11 02:29 PM 01/05/11 02:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass	The Orange boxes seem to be frought with problems when they started outsourceing them overseas for production,.....switch over to a Petronix ingnitor II set-up,...you'll never look at a Chrysler/MP electronic ignition system again

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: bobs66440] #896735 01/05/11 02:31 PM 01/05/11 02:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,826 NY usa 5 540challenger master
540challenger master 5 Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,826 NY usa	Quote: Sorry if this has been discussed already but... I am running an orange box and have had no trouble with it so far. I have heard however that they are prone to frequent failure and I should carry a spare. I realize having a spare never hurts and will get one, but I was just curious if this rumor is true? Thanks. Yes it was true, I am not sure on what years but there was a bad batch of orange boxes iam not sure if they have corrected the issue i or not. If you want to play it safe get a chrome box or FBO box. Maybe Zippy wil chime in he is the mopar performance man to go for theses questions

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: bobs66440] #896736 01/05/11 02:48 PM 01/05/11 02:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,444 Indiana Y YO7_A66 master
YO7_A66 master Y Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,444 Indiana	I run the FBO box but I still carry an orange box for a backup. Note: I also carry a backup coil and voltage regulator too. If you run a ballast resistor, definately carry a backup. 1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: bobs66440] #896737 01/05/11 03:51 PM 01/05/11 03:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,945 Holly/MI D Dean_Kuzluzski master
Dean_Kuzluzski master D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,945 Holly/MI	Juuuuuuust in case you didn't know this already............. the orange box is a "case grounded" unit. Meaning it has to be mounted to a "bare metal surface". I usually add a dedicated ground strap for better assurance. MANY Mopar ECU's have been suspect due to a corroded or poor mounting situation. R.I.P.- Gary "Coop" Davis 02/09/68-05/13/04

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: Dean_Kuzluzski] #896738 01/05/11 09:03 PM 01/05/11 09:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 587 IL . usa C cjs69mope mopar
cjs69mope mopar C Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 587 IL . usa	I have a orange box that failed after three summers of weakend driving the car started to have trouble starting . Then one day just would no longer start this was this past summer before fall . Had a chrome box sitting on the shelf waiting for my superbee to get done.( someday) so i put that in place of the orange box and the car runs better than it ever did with the orange box . I always had a extra ground and bare metel touching and the orange still failed . i probably bought that orange box back in 2004 when i started restoring the 68 charger . I dont know when they went overseas but that is what i suspect was the cause . 1969 Dodge Charger 1969 Dodge Superbee

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: DAYCLONA] #896739 01/05/11 09:09 PM 01/05/11 09:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,556 Florida STAYcation dOc ! The village idiot's idiot
dOc ! The village idiot's idiot Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,556 Florida STAYcation	Quote: The Orange boxes seem to be frought with problems when they started outsourceing them overseas for production,.....switch over to a Petronix ingnitor II set-up,...you'll never look at a Chrysler/MP electronic ignition system again Are these OUTsourced boxes marked a certain way?

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: dOc !] #896740 01/05/11 09:29 PM 01/05/11 09:29 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Are these OUTsourced boxes marked a certain way? well Don at FBO tells me there's a subtle visual diff between the MSD (large blaster 2) lettering between ours and outsourced ones but you'd have to look close & know what to look for. (MSD is outsourcing some of there stuff) I have a new one on the shelf & I'm gonna run it (HEI/no ballast/OE elec dist) & hope it holds up live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: DAYCLONA] #896741 01/05/11 09:55 PM 01/05/11 09:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 253 Orange County, CA M Mike H enthusiast
Mike H enthusiast M Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 253 Orange County, CA	Dayclona is correct. Mopar outsourced both boxes, using cheap Chinese internals. Give Don at FBO a call. It is well worth your time- he will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the woes of the ecu's.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: Mike H] #896742 01/05/11 11:16 PM 01/05/11 11:16 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon D Dougsmopars top fuel
Dougsmopars top fuel D Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon	I ran an orange box for 5 years with no problem. I did switch to the chrome box now. I never run a ballast and use the blue constant output regulator. Car fires right up and never skips a beat. My last half dozon mopars were all set up the same and never had a problem. I do make sure the boxes are well grounded.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: DAYCLONA] #896743 01/05/11 11:29 PM 01/05/11 11:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 36,840 South San Francisco, Californi... MidPenMopar Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar Looking for fun? Keep looking Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 36,840 South San Francisco, Californi...	Quote: The Orange boxes seem to be frought with problems when they started outsourceing them overseas for production,.....switch over to a Petronix ingnitor II set-up,...you'll never look at a Chrysler/MP electronic ignition system again Oh man wiser words were never spoken on here! Dump the box and get the Pertronix!!

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: MidPenMopar] #896744 01/05/11 11:33 PM 01/05/11 11:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 24,562 Brookeville, Md Mr.Yuck Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck Not enough dumb comments...yet Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 24,562 Brookeville, Md	Never had an issue with an orange box. I've had one on just about every mopar I've had since 1990. I've never had one fail either. Make sure it's grounded well and not Flush up on something (keep the back side cool) and you'll be fine. But if all you have is a driver that won't see much over 6k a NAPA stock replacement will work fine too. [IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/pui5j.jpg[/IMG] Coming soon!!!!

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: Mr.Yuck] #896745 01/06/11 12:57 AM 01/06/11 12:57 AM
Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY B bobs66440 OP top fuel
bobs66440 OP top fuel B Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY	Thanks for all the input guys!

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: bobs66440] #896746 01/06/11 01:04 AM 01/06/11 01:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,588 St. John's Newfoundland 440newport master
440newport master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,588 St. John's Newfoundland	I just replaced my 5yo FBO box with an orange box and the car idles and runs 10 times better. I never thought just changing the ign box would make much of a difference if it was still working, but it did. I even had to back the idle screw off to get the rpm down to where it was. I just hope it lasts.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: 440newport] #896747 01/06/11 11:29 AM 01/06/11 11:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,020 Pangaea B5 Bee master
B5 Bee master Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,020 Pangaea	There's been several reported failures of the FBO box. I've had best luck with the MP Chrome, never had one fail. I still don't trust any ECU, I carry a Stand Motor Products LX101 ECU and a 1.2ohm ballast as spares.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: B5 Bee] #896748 01/06/11 11:39 AM 01/06/11 11:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 253 Orange County, CA M Mike H enthusiast
Mike H enthusiast M Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 253 Orange County, CA	If you run a Pertronix do you still use the ballast resistor?

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: B5 Bee] #896749 01/06/11 11:50 AM 01/06/11 11:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 36,840 South San Francisco, Californi... MidPenMopar Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar Looking for fun? Keep looking Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 36,840 South San Francisco, Californi...	Quote: There's been several reported failures of the FBO box. I had two and neither worked for more than a few miles. Then they went dead on the road. I was told it was my voltage regulator being no good but it works fine the the Pertronix Ignitor.

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: MidPenMopar] #896750 01/06/11 02:37 PM 01/06/11 02:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,100 Valencia, España NachoRT74 master
NachoRT74 master Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,100 Valencia, España	first time I heard about FBO failures With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: Mike H] #896751 01/06/11 04:47 PM 01/06/11 04:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass	Quote: If you run a Pertronix do you still use the ballast resistor? If you so desire, but it can be eliminated, so that your system is now 12 volts,...plus you eliminated a problem area with Chryslers,...if you want to run a Petronix, run either an Ignitor II conversion (fits under stock cap/no mods bolt-on) or their billet Ignitor III dist,...either way, eliminate the ballast, and DO run their Flamethrower line of coils, as the OHM rating and turn ratio are drastically different than stock or other coils

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: DAYCLONA] #896752 01/06/11 05:03 PM 01/06/11 05:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 543 Indiana, Just Off I-70 BradD mopar
BradD mopar Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 543 Indiana, Just Off I-70	I just recently had FBO recurve a distributor. I wanted to purchase his ignition kit but was told they had none in stock and didn't know when he would have them again. He was using Standard Motor Products originally until he had problems with them. The problem showed up after Standard started to import the boxes instead of making them in the USA as they previously had been. Brad Check out the Dorn's 69 Barracuda "Switchblade" in the Nov.2010 MCG Check out the Dorn's refurbished 36 Ford in the Feb.2011 Street Rodder

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: BradD] #896753 01/09/11 02:45 AM 01/09/11 02:45 AM
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	It seems the newer orange boxes are the ones with trouble. I have one that I bought in 1998 and put it on my Dart. Then I switched it over to my 63 in 2006 when it went on the road. It is still on my 63 and never misses a beat. I shift about 6200 rpm and as I said it works fine. It seems that everyone who has problems have bought them in the last few years. Ron

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: 383man] #896754 01/09/11 02:13 PM 01/09/11 02:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,196 Harrisburg, Pa. screamindriver master
screamindriver master Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,196 Harrisburg, Pa.	Yep, last orange box lasted 2 summers...And that will be the last orange box for me...I switch to the chrome box but still carry usual bag of parts{ballast,spare box,coil} for the on-road repairs...One of the other vehicles has the MSD 6-AL so I don't need a bag of parts along for the ride in that one...

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: screamindriver] #896755 01/09/11 02:26 PM 01/09/11 02:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,556 Florida STAYcation dOc ! The village idiot's idiot
dOc ! The village idiot's idiot Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,556 Florida STAYcation	ANYone try mounting the box on the inside of the car to help-with the life of the unit?

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: dOc !] #896756 01/09/11 02:44 PM 01/09/11 02:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,848 Memphis HemiRick master
HemiRick master Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,848 Memphis	I've started using 4 pin GM HEI modules. Take care, Rick 68 Coronet R/T 440 & 68 Charger 528 Hemi,and 5 Challengers! 6 cyl, 318, 360, 383, 451

Re: Orange ECU Box [Re: 540challenger] #896757 01/10/11 02:47 AM 01/10/11 02:47 AM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 16,480 Canada CrAzYMoPaRGuY I Live Here
CrAzYMoPaRGuY I Live Here Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 16,480 Canada	Quote: Quote: Sorry if this has been discussed already but... I am running an orange box and have had no trouble with it so far. I have heard however that they are prone to frequent failure and I should carry a spare. I realize having a spare never hurts and will get one, but I was just curious if this rumor is true? Thanks. Yes it was true, I am not sure on what years but there was a bad batch of orange boxes iam not sure if they have corrected the issue i or not. If you want to play it safe get a chrome box or FBO box. Couldn't agree more! I have PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with the bad orange boxes. I have an orange box I purchased new for my motorhome that lasted less than one week before refusing to restart intermittently. I've had half a dozen orange boxes fail in the late 1990s to mid 2000s, won't run them again. I usually toss chrome boxes on everything, but I went with an FBO setup on my Jensen Interceptor, so far I reallllly like it! CrAzYMoPaRGuY

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1