Orange ECU box failure

Posted By: swapman

Orange ECU box failure - 05/27/13 10:21 PM

Tried starting Cuda for first time this year. No spark.
Checked for power everywhere. Put in a friends new ECU box and it started and ran perfect.

My question to all is this... I hid the box under battery tray.
When I changed it, the screw that holds the harness on was missing.

Could vibrations from a loose harness cause the box to fail? Or was it most likely a coincidence.
Anyone have this happen to them?

Another fifty bucks to replace.

Posted By: moparsquid

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/27/13 10:26 PM

most likely crappy chinese made part or lack of good grounds.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/27/13 10:37 PM

There's been a fair number of reported orange box failures esoecially the newer crop but not all of em & we only get the bad reports since we are here to solve problems. Even tho electronic devices dont respond favorly to an open circuit I would think an open would just stop it from functioning rather than burning it out & those pentastar connectors tend to fit pretty tight even without the holddown screw. I just bought a Standard Motor Products LX101 4 pin ECU which is the old reliable standby & guess what it is now made in china so I bought 2 of em

. My FBO coil (older not his new full 12V one)& MP .25 ohm ballast & after a year or so the OE black ECU died so I have the lx on there & a spare in the trunk). it (DD 318) starts instantly year round & that tells me that the ign is compatible & Jacobs ign' came up with something which is that there are different ign requirements for starting/cruising/wot & too much ign can actually cavitate the plug gap & drive air/fuel molecules out & makes things worse & I just stopped at that point

Posted By: 340SHORTY

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/27/13 10:50 PM

50 bucks for what ??

Another pos "orange" box ??

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/28/13 03:03 PM

Quote:

50 bucks for what ?? Another pos "orange" box ??

I agree , swapman , don't buy another orange box , it did you a favor by crapping out. either get a revanator or buy the 7500 rpm box off ebooger on ebay.

PM me your address , i'll send you an orange box to keep you going till you decide on what to buy .

Posted By: swapman

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/28/13 03:36 PM

Okay okay. You guys don't have to hit me over the head more than twice.

I listen to the wise words of MOPARTS. Just ordered two from EBOOGER on E-Bay.

One for me and one for a spare.

Thanks to all. Really appreciated.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/28/13 05:44 PM

Meanwhile my $40 ebay MSD6 keeps on keepin' on. Just how much of the Kool-Aid have you guys drunk? I am constantly amazed at what you'll go through just to keep that MOPAR electronic ignition that's "good enough" and was so groundbreaking back in '73.

R.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/28/13 06:00 PM

Quote:

Meanwhile my $40 ebay MSD6 keeps on keepin' on. Just how much of the Kool-Aid have you guys drunk? I am constantly amazed at what you'll go through just to keep that MOPAR electronic ignition that's "good enough" and was so groundbreaking back in '73.

R.

Posted By: BB65Barracuda

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 12:54 AM

I run a Revanator on my 66 426 Hemi!!

Works Better than my old MSD6AL Cost around 200.00 delivered and goes right where your old Orange box went with no wiring changes.

Posted By: Paul_Fancsali

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 03:19 AM

I have at least 12 mopar control boxes The ones I trust are the factory 4 pin ecu, that were used in late 80sI also have several new orange / chrome boxes they will stay in drawer. After fighting no start issues every spring I finally switched to either points or pertronix they don't let me down and frankly they are so easy to work with that I won't switch back

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 05:34 AM

I quit using the Mopar ignitions 20+ years ago when they doubled in price and the quality went to !%@#.
I had an older orange box and gave it to a friend when his box went out at the track. I use CD ignition boxes now, MSD (6 and digital 6) and Crane HI-6.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 06:00 AM

I'd like to see a real third party test on a 300 hp engine and a 550 hp engine using the RevNnator and competing MSD, Crane, and my favorite Accel 300+.
Years ago when Circle Track did a test the results were very close and probably within test error. of course, that was several years ago.

R.

Posted By: BB65Barracuda

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 01:04 PM

Quote:

I'd like to see a real third party test on a 300 hp engine and a 550 hp engine using the RevNnator and competing MSD, Crane, and my favorite Accel 300+.
Years ago when Circle Track did a test the results were very close and probably within test error. of course, that was several years ago.

R.

I'll admit I was skeptical about the Revanator until I saw Dave Dudek in Detroit tested it out and had actual HP gains on one of his cars.
I've used MSD exclusively for years and never had a failure.
The Revanator was a bolt in on the wifs car instead of finding a place to hide the box and the additional wiring.
I dont want to get out the pom poms but I bought the RTGarage Revanator ignition and it works great.

Posted By: Yellow Fever

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 02:17 PM

http://www.thertgarage.com/products.html

Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 05:40 PM

for 200 bucks it had better be better

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Orange ECU box failure - 05/29/13 06:37 PM

Here's their published average data:

Vs. orange box on a 340...12hp, 14 lb-ft
vs. MSD 7AL on a 440...0.5hp, 1.3 lb-ft
Vs. MSD 6AL on a 493....2.7hp, 3.4 lb-ft

So, my conclusion is: Versus the orange box the RNnator didn't retard spark at higher rpm and made 6% more power.
Versus MSD 6AL increase of 2.7hp, 3.4lb-ft +0.45%
Versus MSD7AL, increase of 0.5hp, 1.3lb-ft +0.082%

So where's the 10-40 hp gain? That's the advertising claim. Against the real competition the gains were within measurement error. Against the real competition, the gains were less than 1/2 of a percent, measurement error.

Advertising claims are NOT BACKED UP BY THEIR OWN DATA!

Another thing...advertised "re-engineered with new digital technology." Shoot, I'm making this post with digital technology.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for anyone who makes a better product in the USA, especially for Chrysler products. It appears that the orange or chrome box has been bettered. But let's not be misleading.

R.