MSD Power Grid & Summit Racing

[Jeff Lee]

I just got off the phone with the shop. The MSD Power Grid ignition and controller I ordered has a defective female connector; solder closed two of the pins together and obviously that is not good. I called MSD tech line and said "I need this fixed yesterday as the engine is sitting on a dyno and costing me time and money". Mr. MSD Tech wanted to know what he was supposed to do about it! I reiterated his problem was now my problem and I expect them to ship me a defect free product immediately. He said they were back ordered 3-4 weeks! He suggested I call Summit as that's where I bought it last week.

I called Summit. No if's, ands or butts, they said they would overnight me a new p/n 7720 today and I'd have it tomorrow. They said UPS would pick up the defective part a few days later. Now that's customer service!

Oh, the ICE Ignition I bought new in 2009? It failed to provide a spark and after talking it through with the owner in Australia; confirming wiring was correct and we tried another coil, it's on it's way back to Australia for further evaluation. That's $1500 down the drain as I now have an MSD Grid. I need the ignition now, not a few weeks from now.

[John Brimer]

Jeff, you are not going to like what I experienced with the Grid. Apparantly, there is a software/firmware update that has to be installed. Depending on the serial number, it may have to be sent back to MSD for update.

I have tried for several months to get mine to work properly. I just found out about the update. I put the 7AL-2 back on. Its works perfectly and my starting problems disappeared.

[Jeff Lee]

Oh great! I read in the instructions that the software was available online. Is that correct?
After receiving the two units (and paying for overnight shipping), I read the instructions and found if I wanted individual cylinder timing (I do), then I needed the p/n 7555 fiber-optic inductive pickup; another $86 and another overnight shipping on the debit card. Would have been nice if that was mentioned when I bought the Grid.
Thanks for the heads up, at least I know if there's a problem I'll no where to look. And yea, I've got a 7AL-2 as a final backup.

[Rich Biebel]

I have a Grid controller with a 7AL3. It worked fine last year when I first installed it...

Over the winter somehow I developed a communication issue with it and my laptop.

I downloaded the newer version of the software from MSD's site.....and immediately had more problems trying to make changes.

I had a box that fell in the serial number range that would have to be sent in for updating.

On my own I figured out that the older version of their software worked with my box.....I got MSD to send me that older version and it again worked fine....

I let one of their Techs talk me into sending it in for updating....It took less than 1 week...there was no charge and they paid for the shipping back to me within 2 or 3 days.....

My updated box works fine and I have no problems with it.....

[rallye bob]

It amazes me how many issues MSD ignitions (boxes) have had over the years, and they are still #1 :-/
If I sold a product with this many issues, and pissed this many customers off, I would be out of business in a New York minute....MSD needs to do seminars on their success...

[Jim Kaekel]

True, MSD has had issues with a couple of their boxes, but they've also got a lot more units out there than anyone else. I've personally had two Digital-7 Plus #7520 units (which they recently discontinued) fail over the last 5-7 years. Previously, I had a 6T unit in my car that worked flawlessly for nearly 20 years. Look at how reliable the 7AL-2 has been. When my Digital-7 Plus quits, I'll probably go with a 7AL-3.

[Jeff Lee]

I suspect that in the not to distant future, MSD will make a full transition to Grid type systems.
As soon as I make a few races this year, in the off season I'll send both units to TechWest for blue printing an preventative corrections (like poor solder that I've already experienced). Price quote was $200 per unit. Gulp! But it sounds to me like a good investment

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Jeff, glad to hear your experience with summit was a good one. Month ago bought 2 new slicks for my sons car, he had them mounted and balanced called friday nite from the track telling me his car was undriveable. Well come to eventually find out the rollout was off by 3/4 in. Now he raced that weekend on the tires as he was in the points, Sunday morning I called Jegs explained he had raced on the tires and what the problem was. They said no problem we'll send a will call for them and refund your money as they did not have another set to send me. Now that's customer service. Glad these companies still care about their customers.

[njk53]

Summit Racing is an outstanding company with an excellent track record of customer service. Never hassle you about returns which in my case are very few. That's why I do a lot of business with them.