QuestionHi again: I have checked for the wire off the dist. It has no wires and it is empty of anything but rotor and shileld. I have located the ign control module. I have taken aprt all the connections I can find and put them back together, replaced some fuses, put the old coil back in. I have looked at the grounds, but will add some extras. Is the msd you refer to still the right pone for my system. any other suggestions.? Originally I thought I had a fuel problem. But no spark changed my mind about that. Thanks, Jeff
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Question -
I have a 48 English Ford Anglia/Prefect Streetrod that is built using an 87 Alfa Spider as a doner car in it's Intirity. I mean everything from head to toes. It has about 40k miles on it. Most recently it developed a starting problem when I go to leave a show/cruise after sitting a 3 or 4 hours. In the past it has started, usually after a long crank the 1 st time and only a few cranks the last time. This has happened twice now. Since the 2 times it has been fine w/o problem. Last night it did not start, so a tow was necessary. No spark. This morning it started right up. I put it in the garage with the idea of replacing the Bosch coil. I installed a good used Ford electronic ign. coil, and it would not restart,I put the old coil back in ,and it too would not start it either. There is power to both sides of the coil + and - with the key on. I hooked a test light to the neg side and cranked figuring it would pulse, but just a dim. There is power to the cam trigger- green wire, but no spark to the the distributor or the plugs. I pulled the plug off the cam trigger, to check the connection, but not sure what else to look for in the way of a problem.I hesitate to pull the trigger, for fear of a problem I might not be knowledgeable to reinstall if I did so. I looked in the dist, but it appeared to be pretty much void of any parts. Rotor and cap were new a year ago. I tried different coil wire, no change. I have looked for a ign. module, but have no idea where it might be. I have looked at the processer for burnt smells, none. My car uses a Spider harness, so the module should be located near where it was in the Spider,where ever that location may be, but tighter quarters now. The car has run fine up to this point, even with the recent starting problem. I have looked in aftermakret parts catlg, but don't even see modles for sale for this year car and question whetheror what it uses.
Answer -
Are you positive that you have fuel pressure and volumn while cranking. If so, then the ignition module or connections are probably the fault. Follow the shielded wire from the distributor and you will come to the module. It can be replaced by an MSD 6A unit. Re the distributor--it is keyed and very straightforward to reassemble. But, if it is the hall effect version it is probably ok--I have only found coil problems with the earlier version (to 83 or so).
And another thing. Stop using a test light around electronic components. Use a DMM or oscilliscope only.
The grounds are very important with electronic componects so make sure all grounds are clean and tight. As this was a conversion--be sure there is good grounding between chassis, engine and battery.
AnswerSo the ignition system you are using has a crank sensor to trigger the ignition module, probably from the ECU. It would be best to test the sensor or at least see if you get a signal to the ignition module before changing it. For this you need a digital multi-meter at least. And yes this system can trigger the msd unit provided a single signal is sent from the ECU or the sensor.
