Help!! Engine Miss

Ben Kallies · 09-10-2011, 08:22 AM

Krugracing12 - I had previously heard of others having the same interference proble,, so when I installed the new MSD, I ran the coil wires outside the car, direct to the coil to eliminate the possibility of the interference problem that you're speaking of. Thanks for your 2 cents.

-Ben

Ben Kallies · 09-10-2011, 08:25 AM

Voltdr - The MSD distributor connector is notched so that it can only be installed one way, eliminating the possibility of a polarity issue. Thanks.

-Ben

Jeff Goss · 09-10-2011, 10:03 AM

Any Ground straps not put back on? Sounds like it could be a grounding issue.

Good luck!

Ed Carpenter · 09-10-2011, 05:30 PM

I would check and then check again the grounds. I chased a problem for half a season and it was a stupid ground wire touching. Good luck.

tommy d · 09-10-2011, 09:22 PM

We had a battery disconect switch go bad and cause a break up problem. Still shut the power off o.k. but the car would miss on the track.

Duane Eiskant II · 09-10-2011, 09:25 PM

Ben, the harness from the msd box itself to the dist. Make sure its run by itself and not with any other wires. I know you mentioned you isolated the coil wires, but really there not that much of a issue like the harness to the dist. I had a problem on my car some time ago where it just started missing all of a sudden, changed the harness from the box to the dist and used the shielded cable, which solved the problem. Also, even though the msd harness will only plug in one way, you still need to check that the wires were installed in the connector the correct way from msd, selling speed parts for 15 years, i have seen them come from msd hooked up the wrong way.

Ben Kallies · 09-11-2011, 08:51 AM

Thanks to all who responded. This gives me some more things to check (and double check).

-Ben

Ben Kallies · 10-15-2011, 09:52 PM

Update 10/15/11. I've now replaced or swapped out literally every ignition system component with either new, or known good parts, with no change.

I completely drained the fuel system dry, installed fresh fuel, and sent out the carb for a check, and freshening. No change.

Because the engine ran great on the dyno, I don't suspect that it's a mechanical issue with the engine.

Next step is to start from scratch, and completely redo the wiring. Winter is just around the corner here in WI. I better get a new heater for the garage.

As always, I'm open to ideas. Thanks for reading.

-Ben Kallies

randy wilson · 01-25-2012, 10:40 AM

Look at the ground, it will be the problem. You may have to ground it in several places, and also, put a timing light on the motor in the car, rev it up to peak, and see if the timing moves. If it does, it is a ground.

FED 387 · 01-25-2012, 12:41 PM

timing on a engine with a chain drive will tend to retard as the engine increases in rpm and advance when the rpm decreases if you time it by reving it up its the chain stretching ever so slightly or taking up the slack that causes this movement---try timing it at a steady rpm of say 5000 rpm see what it does if its moving around or not---I'm gonna bet tht you have a bad wire somewhere either broken or bad connector maybe even a bad sparkplug try swapping out plugs one at a time see if it helps I've seen bad ones from the factory not often but it does happen---works and then kinda works depending on the load and other things---- -- maybe go so far as to take the engine back out of the car and run it on the dyno again see if the problem persists or goes away---if it persists its the engine if it goes away its some thing in the car---if its in the car then you'll hafta start looking at the entire electricla/ignition system----Comp

09-10-2011, 08:22 AM	#1
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Krugracing12 - I had previously heard of others having the same interference proble,, so when I installed the new MSD, I ran the coil wires outside the car, direct to the coil to eliminate the possibility of the interference problem that you're speaking of. Thanks for your 2 cents. -Ben

09-10-2011, 08:25 AM	#2
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Voltdr - The MSD distributor connector is notched so that it can only be installed one way, eliminating the possibility of a polarity issue. Thanks. -Ben

09-10-2011, 10:03 AM	#3
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Any Ground straps not put back on? Sounds like it could be a grounding issue. Good luck!

09-10-2011, 05:30 PM	#4
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss I would check and then check again the grounds. I chased a problem for half a season and it was a stupid ground wire touching. Good luck. __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

09-10-2011, 09:22 PM	#5
tommy d Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 830 Likes: 1,612 Liked 359 Times in 135 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss We had a battery disconect switch go bad and cause a break up problem. Still shut the power off o.k. but the car would miss on the track.

09-10-2011, 09:25 PM	#6
Duane Eiskant II Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Alexandria, Va Posts: 501 Likes: 261 Liked 57 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Ben, the harness from the msd box itself to the dist. Make sure its run by itself and not with any other wires. I know you mentioned you isolated the coil wires, but really there not that much of a issue like the harness to the dist. I had a problem on my car some time ago where it just started missing all of a sudden, changed the harness from the box to the dist and used the shielded cable, which solved the problem. Also, even though the msd harness will only plug in one way, you still need to check that the wires were installed in the connector the correct way from msd, selling speed parts for 15 years, i have seen them come from msd hooked up the wrong way. __________________ Duane Eiskant 1354 Stock/Super Stock

09-11-2011, 08:51 AM	#7
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Thanks to all who responded. This gives me some more things to check (and double check). -Ben

10-15-2011, 09:52 PM	#8
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Update 10/15/11. I've now replaced or swapped out literally every ignition system component with either new, or known good parts, with no change. I completely drained the fuel system dry, installed fresh fuel, and sent out the carb for a check, and freshening. No change. Because the engine ran great on the dyno, I don't suspect that it's a mechanical issue with the engine. Next step is to start from scratch, and completely redo the wiring. Winter is just around the corner here in WI. I better get a new heater for the garage. As always, I'm open to ideas. Thanks for reading. -Ben Kallies

01-25-2012, 10:40 AM	#9
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Look at the ground, it will be the problem. You may have to ground it in several places, and also, put a timing light on the motor in the car, rev it up to peak, and see if the timing moves. If it does, it is a ground. __________________ don,t have one

01-25-2012, 12:41 PM	#10
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,420 Likes: 529 Liked 333 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss timing on a engine with a chain drive will tend to retard as the engine increases in rpm and advance when the rpm decreases if you time it by reving it up its the chain stretching ever so slightly or taking up the slack that causes this movement---try timing it at a steady rpm of say 5000 rpm see what it does if its moving around or not---I'm gonna bet tht you have a bad wire somewhere either broken or bad connector maybe even a bad sparkplug try swapping out plugs one at a time see if it helps I've seen bad ones from the factory not often but it does happen---works and then kinda works depending on the load and other things---- -- maybe go so far as to take the engine back out of the car and run it on the dyno again see if the problem persists or goes away---if it persists its the engine if it goes away its some thing in the car---if its in the car then you'll hafta start looking at the entire electricla/ignition system----Comp