msd digital 6 question

have an MSD digital 6 which comes with leads to the coil and the distributer. I cannot get power to the coil even while cranking. am i missing something? Msd is wired correctly and the led light is on but no spark. Of course the tech line is closed, dohhhhhhh!

Checking The MSD Ignition For Spark
The following test will determine if your MSD is producing a spark.





Magnetic Pickup Trigger:
If you are using the 2-Pin Magnetic Pickup of the MSD to trigger the ignition, follow these steps.

1. Make sure the ignition switch is in the Off position.

2. Remove the coil wire from the distributor cap and position the terminal so it is approximately 1/2" from a good ground.

3. Disconnect the MSD Magnetic Pickup connector from the distributor.

4. Turn the ignition to the On position. DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE.

5. With a small jumper wire, short the Green and Violet magnetic pickup wires together then pull the jumper off. Each time the short is removed a spark should jump If spark is present, the ignition is working properly.
If there is no spark:

A. Inspect all of the wiring.

B. Substitute another coil and test again. If there is now spark, the coil is at fault.

C. If there is still no spark, check to make sure there is 12 volts on the small Red wire from the MSD when the key is in the On position. If 12 volts are not present, find another 12 volt source and repeat the test.

D. After inspecting the test procedures and inspecting all of the wiring, there is still no spark, the Ignition is at fault. See the Warranty and Service Page for Information.

check the dial settinggs. there is a position that shuts off the ignition to prevent someone from taking the car etc.

i am using a three pin to the distributer, red has power, white should be the signal and a ground, would i connect the red and white on the connector to create a spark? Should i have 12 volts at the coil or will the msd only send a signal?

Larry Williams wrote:check the dial settinggs. there is a position that shuts off the ignition to prevent someone from taking the car etc.

Note: Positions 8 and
9 cause the ignition
NOT to run. Use as a
theft deterrant.

on the cylinder select dial

should i not be in 8 for 8 cylinders?

nope

Cylinder Select Cyl.Select w/ 20° Start Retard
0 = 4 cyl. 4 = 4 cyl.
1 = 6 cyl. 5 = 6 cyl.
2 = 8 cyl. 6 = 8 cyl.
3 = 6 odd 7 = 6 odd fire

thanx for the help, now well give it a try.

i am in setting 2, now the led is intermitently flashing at times, i think its time to switch to pertronix and make life easier.

is this a new or used box?

this is a new box and wired with a painless harness, grounds are good, connections are good, distributer has power but nothing at the coil.

cooter wrote:i am in setting 2, now the led is intermitently flashing at times, i think its time to switch to pertronix and make life easier.

It should flash "intermittently" as it is being cranked to indicate that it is receiving a signal from the pickup. I've been using a digital 6 for 10 years and really like it! If everything else is right, it should fire when the led flashes on the box. Check it over one more time before switching to another brand box. The instruction book is quite informative.
Gary

it flashes sometimes when it is on but not cranking, checked everything many times with no spark. I am getting one from the supplier who figures that it is defective. Thanx for the responses.

Bought the MSD Digital 6 Plus and a pro billet # 8477 ... ran well for a few years, then similar problems. .. Engine died. Would start intermittently after that for a while, then not at all. Took system out and put in a different system, then went back to original engine and put the MSD parts back in ... ran OK for two days, then dead. .... LED on Digital box comes on when ign. turned to on, then blinks intermittently - not like it should when running properly, with the light pulsing in sink with the spark. Blinks every two or three seconds.

Light comes on and stays on, then starts to blink intermittently. Does not change when cranking. Have gone through all MSD procedures repeatedly. ALL connections are correct. The system has never suffered any shocks, water, heat or the like ...

Subsequently replaced by a correct D0OF distributor with POINTS.

Any suggestions? Do we still need to send faulty systems to EL Paso to have them repaired?

GCJ

cooter wrote:i am using a three pin to the distributer, red has power, white should be the signal and a ground, would i connect the red and white on the connector to create a spark? Should i have 12 volts at the coil or will the msd only send a signal?

Three pin per MSD.. NO! Red - 12V switched power, White - Trigger, Black - Ground

cooter wrote:i am in setting 2, now the led is intermitently flashing at times, i think its time to switch to pertronix and make life easier.

I had a buddy who tried to use an Accel dizzy w/a 6AL years back, and it was nothing but an ass-pain.. We re-wired directly to the mag pickup. No need for any dizzy beyond a simple magnetic pickup.. The stand-alone units don't seem to play well with MSD

dfi, i miswrote what i meant, i did mean that the third wire (black) was the ground. I like msd but it seems to me that simple is best and anytime things dont work it seems to be from fancy pieces. What do you mean by stand alone units? I am using all msd components.

got a replacement msd 6 and motor fired right up, i liked it better when it wasnt running, now i have an oil pan leak! Oh well, at least it runs good. Thanx for all the help.