MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.

Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?

Any help appreciated.

TIA,
George
90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

George,

I have been in situations where I thought it was the MSD box I had being the
problem. It probably isn't your problem. MSD will tell you that they either
work, or they don't. If you go to their website www.msdignition.com there is
a procedure for checking the box to see if it is in fact working, or if you
should be sending it to MSD for service or replacement. Chances are that if
you are having trouble with an MSD ignition controller, it is probably a
loose connection somewhere as opposed to the unit being bad. I've ran them
for years in various vehicles, and have yet to ever see one fail. For that
matter, I have never even heard of one failing on anyone's vehicle that was
actually an internal fault with the unit. These boxes are pretty
indestructable. I once accidently grounded one across the terminals on my
battery (the fireworks were great) and it still worked perfectly afterwards.

Rick


"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

George,

I have been in situations where I thought it was the MSD box I had being the
problem. It probably isn't your problem. MSD will tell you that they either
work, or they don't. If you go to their website www.msdignition.com there is
a procedure for checking the box to see if it is in fact working, or if you
should be sending it to MSD for service or replacement. Chances are that if
you are having trouble with an MSD ignition controller, it is probably a
loose connection somewhere as opposed to the unit being bad. I've ran them
for years in various vehicles, and have yet to ever see one fail. For that
matter, I have never even heard of one failing on anyone's vehicle that was
actually an internal fault with the unit. These boxes are pretty
indestructable. I once accidently grounded one across the terminals on my
battery (the fireworks were great) and it still worked perfectly afterwards.

Rick


"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

George,

I have been in situations where I thought it was the MSD box I had being the
problem. It probably isn't your problem. MSD will tell you that they either
work, or they don't. If you go to their website www.msdignition.com there is
a procedure for checking the box to see if it is in fact working, or if you
should be sending it to MSD for service or replacement. Chances are that if
you are having trouble with an MSD ignition controller, it is probably a
loose connection somewhere as opposed to the unit being bad. I've ran them
for years in various vehicles, and have yet to ever see one fail. For that
matter, I have never even heard of one failing on anyone's vehicle that was
actually an internal fault with the unit. These boxes are pretty
indestructable. I once accidently grounded one across the terminals on my
battery (the fireworks were great) and it still worked perfectly afterwards.

Rick


"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

George,

I have been in situations where I thought it was the MSD box I had being the
problem. It probably isn't your problem. MSD will tell you that they either
work, or they don't. If you go to their website www.msdignition.com there is
a procedure for checking the box to see if it is in fact working, or if you
should be sending it to MSD for service or replacement. Chances are that if
you are having trouble with an MSD ignition controller, it is probably a
loose connection somewhere as opposed to the unit being bad. I've ran them
for years in various vehicles, and have yet to ever see one fail. For that
matter, I have never even heard of one failing on anyone's vehicle that was
actually an internal fault with the unit. These boxes are pretty
indestructable. I once accidently grounded one across the terminals on my
battery (the fireworks were great) and it still worked perfectly afterwards.

Rick


"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

I have the same ignition box and yes I did have one that went bad. It would
just die and not start back for hours or sometimes days. I called MSD and
they said send it in. It has a date stamped on the back, it will have a
warranty of one year from that date. I bought mine from summit racing but
didn't have the receipt or any documentation. MSD replaced it on the 12th
month. I believe they sent a returned model, it was one that was
cosmetically damaged but worked. It looked new to me, I don't see anything
wrong with it. It does work and tests out great, however I have a similar
problem as before and can't pinpoint it. I am beginning to think that I have
another bad MSD box, but I just cannot believe it. It must be a bad
connection somewhere.

--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!



"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

I have the same ignition box and yes I did have one that went bad. It would
just die and not start back for hours or sometimes days. I called MSD and
they said send it in. It has a date stamped on the back, it will have a
warranty of one year from that date. I bought mine from summit racing but
didn't have the receipt or any documentation. MSD replaced it on the 12th
month. I believe they sent a returned model, it was one that was
cosmetically damaged but worked. It looked new to me, I don't see anything
wrong with it. It does work and tests out great, however I have a similar
problem as before and can't pinpoint it. I am beginning to think that I have
another bad MSD box, but I just cannot believe it. It must be a bad
connection somewhere.

--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!



"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

I have the same ignition box and yes I did have one that went bad. It would
just die and not start back for hours or sometimes days. I called MSD and
they said send it in. It has a date stamped on the back, it will have a
warranty of one year from that date. I bought mine from summit racing but
didn't have the receipt or any documentation. MSD replaced it on the 12th
month. I believe they sent a returned model, it was one that was
cosmetically damaged but worked. It looked new to me, I don't see anything
wrong with it. It does work and tests out great, however I have a similar
problem as before and can't pinpoint it. I am beginning to think that I have
another bad MSD box, but I just cannot believe it. It must be a bad
connection somewhere.

--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!



"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L

Re: MSD 6 gone bad? Need Help/Opinions
 

I have the same ignition box and yes I did have one that went bad. It would
just die and not start back for hours or sometimes days. I called MSD and
they said send it in. It has a date stamped on the back, it will have a
warranty of one year from that date. I bought mine from summit racing but
didn't have the receipt or any documentation. MSD replaced it on the 12th
month. I believe they sent a returned model, it was one that was
cosmetically damaged but worked. It looked new to me, I don't see anything
wrong with it. It does work and tests out great, however I have a similar
problem as before and can't pinpoint it. I am beginning to think that I have
another bad MSD box, but I just cannot believe it. It must be a bad
connection somewhere.

--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!



"George J. McFadden" <mcfadden@mitre.org> wrote in message
news:40758876.CEF3C5BB@mitre.org...
> Latest word on my 90 YJ is the MSD 6 Off-Road Ignition I have had for
> the last 4 years is intermittently not sending a spark (according to the
> shop). I occasionally have had problems starting, just keeps cranking,
> and one time, my solution was to roll the jeep back a bit, let out the
> clutch, then pushed clutch back in and it started right up.
>
> Is there some sort of sensor? Could it be a flywheel problem? Could
> this due to a battery problem? My YJ has been sitting for a while (2-3
> months) and the battery was totally drained. I recharged it but could I
> just simply need a new battery rather than a new MSD?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> George
> 90 Wrangler 4.2L