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MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep running

Posted By: 69CopperCoronet

MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep running - 09/28/09 05:03 AM

Ive been having a run of bad luck with mopar orange box ignitions so i put an MSD 6A box in the car. ive double and triple checked my wiring and have the box grounded to the block, yet i still have the following problem:

when turning the car over, i get a brief run time of around 1 second, but when i let off the ignition switch to go from "start" to "on" the engine immediately dies. ive tested the box and coil and determined them to be putting out spark when jumped.
is it the box or maybe my ignition switch?
Posted By: 70AARcuda

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep running - 09/28/09 05:07 AM

the wires that were on the ballast resistor need to be connected together with the orange wire from the msd...

you are getting voltage from one of the wires for the start circuit but not the run circuit...that is why the two wire need to be connected together...
Posted By: GoodysGotaCuda

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep run - 09/28/09 05:07 AM

One common mistake in wiring MSD boxes is not having the red wire hot in "start" AND "run" key positions. I'd imagine you have it hot only when in "start". So it fires and as soon as you click it back to "run" it's killing the ignition..
Posted By: 69CopperCoronet

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep running - 09/28/09 05:29 AM

tony, there are 3 wires that were connected to the ballast resistor. how should i connect those to the orange msd wire? the orange msd wire is to the + side of the coil, and msd says to only have that one orange wire going to the coil. they say to have the small red wire going to the original coil + wire from the dodge harness
Posted By: 69CopperCoronet

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep run - 09/28/09 05:30 AM

goodys- how should i wire this working with the factory wiring?
Posted By: 69CopperCoronet

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep run - 09/28/09 05:45 AM

well i reconnected the ballast resistor wires to the ballast resistor and she runs. this is what the msd wiring diagram implies, it never says anything about eliminating the resistor.

now riddle me this: the msd box is making a ton of noise that increases in beat with engine rpm. is this normal for msd boxes? i had a crane hi-6 in my old ford truck that never made a peep.
Posted By: Pyper70

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep run - 09/28/09 03:47 PM

The noise is hit or miss...my 70 Charger had a humming noise but I asked the MSD rep at the local speed shop one day and he said that some boxes do that and others dont. The one on my 70 dart was quiet, the 69 hums every now and then but its been like that for 7 years and never had an issue.
Posted By: 70AARcuda

Re: MSD 6A problems - initial fires then won't keep run - 09/28/09 04:22 PM

the msd 6 does not use the factory ballast resistor..
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