musnicki

My box is getting power in but no power out to the coil. I've had it for 7 years...daily driver. Just wondering if I'm over due for a new one or if they should last longer. I replaced the coil last year.

James

racer_dave

I'd say it's time for a new one since it doesn't work? For my racecars, I run them about 4 seasons and then sell them. I'm not sure which is harder on them, daily driver=more use/less load or racing=less use/more load. But I replace them at 4yrs so I don't have to worry about it dying during a race. I do keep a couple older ones that are still good as spares.

bop11

Even transistors can burn out. Probably the problem is vibration has cracked some solder joints. If you can open the box and inspect the solder joints with a magnifying glass, look for little circles around the leads or lose parts. The circles are hard to see but are solder fractures. Try re soldering the board if possible and then replace it if it still doesn't work..
There is a YouTube video on these repairs.

racer_dave

on my MSD's all the boards are coated in thick epoxy. I don't think there's a way to get in there to repoint the solder joints or even test the different components.

Derf00

They epoxy them so they don't fail due to broken solder joints as pointed out by bop11. The problem then becomes, the PCB becomes unserviceable (disposable). My guess is that either capacitor, resistor, or transistor popped.

Going to have to pony up and just buy a new one or contact MSD to see what they say.

69mach1377

I think they'll repair it for a fee...or supply a refurb.

musnicki

I bought a new one, but I move to El Paso (will live there for 10 months) in two weeks, so maybe I will stop by the MSD plant there and see if they can rebuild it.

New one, fired right up...well kinda...but yea, I was able to drive home.

musnicki

MSD installation gone wrong. My windshield wipers sucked up some AC/Heater tubing, went off track and then sliced through some wires under the dash.





Finally got it all sorted out and should be straight for a cruise at Windward Mall, Kaneohe, HI this Friday. If any of you are around come on out!

fastbackford351

Oh man, the mangled under dash wiring is a kick in the nuts.

Al Newman

MSD boxes are usually good for anywhere to 1 minute through twenty years, but experience shows failure rates in the first five years are pretty high. For a daily driver, it baffles me that folks spend the big bucks to install something that can't even compare service-wise to OEM ignition stuff.