MSD digital 6AL problems?

[71gtdart]

put a brand new one in the new race car. it has been cranking the car just fine while in the shop. last night I finally bled the brakes on the car and was going to check the transmission and 2 step operation. I start the car right up, put it in reverse and mash the trans brake. "bump", right into gear and I back it out of the shop. so now that I know reverse works, I put it in park and let it warm up a little bit before trying the 2-step. while in park, I set the 2-step for 2,000rpm, mash the button, pedal to the floor, and it 2 steps at a perfect 2,000 rpm on the tach. happy with that, I am about to check first gear by pulling it back in the shop. just as I reach for the shifter the car cuts off without a sputter. I try to crank it back and it doesn't hit a lick. fuel pressure shows 7lbs and the squirters are all pumping fuel into the engine.

I cut the switch off, and then turn it back on. at that point the red LED should be lit on the box, but it is not. I do the MSD spark test and find no spark. change coils and still no spark. check power to the box from switch with the swicth on, and it DOES have power getting to the box. box is grounded to the back of the engine where the paint has been scraped away. hot feed is straight to the battery. I have checked the wiring 3 times, and it is right. I have wired a pile of these things, but I double checked myself.

any of you guys have trouble like this with your Digital 6AL? Jegs is making it good for me, and the new box should be here tomarrow. hope it works, because I am supposed to take the car to have it aligned thursday, and to the track for the first time on saturday. been building this thing for 3 years and I'm ready to play race car, damn it!!!!

 

[67Dart273]

The white did not get accidently grounded, eh?

Brand new electronics are far more likely to fail, IE "burn in" usually if they last a few hours, they are more likely to never fail.

There's a troubleshooting procedure........you can download at MSD.

Distributor pickup / connections?

 

[71gtdart]

The white did not get accidently grounded, eh?

Brand new electronics are far more likely to fail, IE "burn in" usually if they last a few hours, they are more likely to never fail.

There's a troubleshooting procedure........you can download at MSD.

Distributor pickup / connections?

got the white wire rolled up and insulated on the bare end. the troubleshooting procedure has been gone through and it failed the test that they want you to do. all connections are tight and were done with premium connectors. on the distributor, even if it was bad the box should still power on and arc the coil wire when you jump the plug in for the distributor.

there is no doubt that the box is bad. I was just wondering if anyone else here has had similar issues with the 6AL digital. I have heard that these boxes are giving trouble. Never had one single issue with the 6AL analog boxes.

kinda makes me nervous if they are having trouble. a man could have one fail on him in the semi finals while leading the points! That crap would suck.

 

[67Dart273]

This isn't one of the counterfeit boxes by chance? There were some threads about how to ID them. Otherwise I'd say...........back ta MSD

 

[71gtdart]

new box came today. plugged in into my harness and BOOM. cranked like it was fuel injection. washed her and got her loaded up on the trailer. gonna take it to have it aligned in the morning. hope all the drama is over.

 

[sbmmustang]

You need to put the ground wire from the MSD to the ground to the battery just like the power wire as per the instructions not the block.

 

[71gtdart]

You need to put the ground wire from the MSD to the ground to the battery just like the power wire as per the instructions not the block.

thats not what the instructions say. they say the engine block or the negative battery terminal are both exceptable for grounding the unit. they also say that the power wire can be run to the positive battery terminal, starter lug, or any other power junction that is fed directly by the battery except the alternator.

I've wired a ton of these things the same way I have this one wired, and have never had a problem with any of them. this is the first digital box that I have done, and have read that they have been known to give trouble.

 

[Abodybomber]

You run a two step box.Was it around, an original non digital box? This changes ,all efforts.

 

[71gtdart]

You run a two step box.Was it around, an original non digital box? This changes ,all efforts.

I apologize, but I'm not sure what you mean. are you asking if I'm trying to use the old analog 2 step with the new digital box?

If so, the answer is no. I have the digital 2 step controller that goes with the 6AL digital box. my controller has the newer style knobs to select rpm, instead of the modules that plug into the old ones.