Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I've been fighting a no spark problem for a while now, I've done
the tests as outlined on the MSD website.

This unit has less than two hours run time on it. Of course I bought
it longer than a year ago (how time flies) so no warranty.

What has been your experience with MSD products? Just sent it
back for repair and suck up the cost or buy another or go in another
direction? I could always go to a chrysler chrome box w/ballast.

Open to comments & suggestions

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

Personally, I would go with the Digital 6 rather than the 6AL box. Back when the 6AL was the only option they seemed to have a short life (2 years).

I have been told that MSD came out with a programable 6 but haven't verified.

Tim

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I haven't had that much trouble with MSD stuff, I've had 6 series stuff last decades.

Google MSD repair.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

hi, just curious, did you bypass the ballast resister?

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

Oldracer,

Yes according to the instructions you eliminate the ballast resister when
you add the MSD 6AL unit.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...8circa2005.jpg
The above box was installed on the firewall in 1991 and performed flawlessly up to the time it was removed and sold in 2007 when I swapped it out for a Digital 6 which has not been a plug and play box for many including myself.

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...DSC00693-1.jpg
3 boxes later along with changing all the ignition components and the issue was resolved.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I've run MSD 6T, 6AL and Digital 7 Plus boxes for roughly 25 years and in that time had 1 (Digital 7 Plus) failure. In my experience, other than simply following directions, the things to really pay attention to are grounds and supply voltage. Their tech offer exceptional help when required as well.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

this company does a good upgrade on the MSD 6AL. He is in NASCAR country and does work for many of the NASCAR Teams.

http://www.techwestracing.com/

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

X2 on the decades. I have 6AL in a car thats 28 years old!

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

Over many years I've had a few MSD boxes fail or cause trouble. One thing I would not do is send it back to them.. Waste of time.....sell it or trash it and buy a new one....I have had at least 2 7AL2's fail or cause missing. 1 Digital 6 failed but it may have gotten wet so I don't blame the box for that one....

I work on Inverter type welders and they don't like water either!!! Solid state....very high tech electronics....

The usual Nascar "Cup Car" has 2 seperate MSD's and a switch for the driver to use should he have an ignition problem.....


Mallory supplied the ignition boxes to one of the NASCAR round track series and they used to say they never had a box failure out on the racetrack.

I would use a Mallory in a heartbeat but MSD is what everyone is familiar with and their Digital boxes have features that are very helpfull to some....

I have a freind who just installed a Digital 7 with timing control to help him with a very temper"mental" car.......I am anxious to see if it works for him...

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

Have done any welding on the car?

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

i had mine for 10 years and even put a hole thru it with a 1/4 drill by accident still works fine ,,of coarse you get those ones that just are junk out of the box gmonde

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

When it somes to welding on a racecar I can give you some advice.

I am Miller and Lincoln Certifed as a repair tech on their machines

Mig welding is DC at fairly low voltage....around 20 volts and really all you need to do is keep you work clamp close to the weld site.....It certainly couln't hurt to go further and disconnect you ignition box or even remove it but it's not necessary....

The big issue with welders is HF used for arc starting with a Tig welder......and the arc coming out of a plasma cutter is similar to HF.....but even more likely to cause a problem with sensitive electronics.....

At the very least anything electronic should be disconnected if your using a tig with HF or a plasma cutter.......

Now someone will come on here and say he never removes anything and never hurt a thing.........thats the usual response on the Interent.....If it's my car I'm doing my best to protect my electronics.....

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I'm probably nuts, but my ECU and MSD box come out of the car before I tig weld on it.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

You're definately not nuts Ed and I agree. My Lt-1 had to much stuff in it that could get hurt.......I did mig weld on the car and as I said never removed anything for that process......

I used a plasma cutter on a few vehicles over the years and had at least one that failed to start after the work I did. It was a work truck and I cut something in the rear suspension. Fuel pump circuit was killed in the ECU.....Ford. I rigged up a seperate circuit rather than replace the computer....Never used a plasma again on anything in the shop that had electronics attached to it....

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

Thank you all for your comments and input. A local racer has offered
to loan me his good tested spare MSD 6AL and a good distributor
so I can test everything and then replace the correct bad parts instead
of just throwing money at it.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I spoke with Pat from Techwest he was very helpful in tracking down a small problem with my ing. system. He just verbally gave me some advise and it worked. He does repair all kinds of MSD's. I will send hime my MSD's to be upgraded.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

hi, just a thought. I mounted my 7al2 on the floor panel passenger side, with rubber mounts, ran a ground to block. its way away from heat of any kind. been in car since 1990.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

I really thought I remembered the 6AL coming out in the late 80s or early 90s? I've had a few with only 1 problem, I sent it back out of warranty and as I recall, they repaired it for near nothing. Probably because it was an internal fuse . Call them and check cost, likely well worth sending in.

Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL?
 

That is how mine is, with a 10 ga ground wire directly to the back of the pass side cylinder head.