Quick Help needed to Get Started

[Bill Bulmer]

Last weekend I parked my Cobra #1357 (427 Iconic motor) in the garage and all was well. Today it wouldn't start. I checked the fuel and it seems good, but I don't get any spark out of the coil wire going to the distributor. Are there any other connections or avenues that I should check or test, or should I just replace the coil. Also if I do that, do I have to reset the rev limiter? Thank you.

[FWB]

what distributor do you have? sometimes hard to tell with just coil wire pulled if coil is working'

[Bill Bulmer]

My manual says MSD Ford billet distributor with Street Fire CDI ignition.

Please see attached pics. Thank you.

[trularin]

Before we change stuff out - please pull the cap of the distributor off and crank. If the rotor does not turn, you have work to do.

Just my $.02 worth.

Tru

[trularin]

WOW, someone ty-wrapped the ignition coil trigger to the coil wire????

Tru

[Ron61]

Make sure that your coil wire is good before you start farther troubleshooting. And as Tru suggested, make sure that the distributor is turning.

Ron

[Bill Bulmer]

So far so good, the distributor is turning. I will keep checking electrically as best as I can and report back.

[Bill Bulmer]

Ok, I just checked the coil with an Ohm meter, both the primary and secondary sides and it seems ok. I haven't done this type of works in 30 years, so apologies for the partial ignorance/amnesia. So I am guessing it's either coil wire as Ron suggested, or the trigger device in the distributor? Anything else I should be looking at? Any way to do further testing without parts replacement?

[jkg2101]

On my MSD distributor, The magnetic pick up just stopped working one day. It was the same as you were describing. This is a well known problem with MSD distributors. I would bet that if there is no spark to the spark plugs, then that might be your problem. I don't know if there is an easy way to diagnose this other than just buying a new part and replacing it And my Pantera, you have to remove firewall from inside the car to get to the distributor. At least on the cobra it's easy to get to That's why on my last two engines, I used an old-fashioned points distributor.

[Ozzie Goat]

I am in exactly the same pickle.

Replaced the coil, seemed easy - no change.

Per MSD, the next thing to check is the 12V RED wire at the box.
If you have 12V at key and at crank, then it's the box.

Thanks for all the comments on checking the distributor, I'll check that too.

Happy Hunting !

[Ozzie Goat]

Oh, and here's to breaking down in our own garage

At least I have that

[Ozzie Goat]

Is your box MSD 6AL ??

Long story short, it was recommended to me that if that RED wire (ignition lead) is hot then the box needs to be repaired if there is not spark from the coil wire.

SO, it was suggested that I purchase a new 6AL and install that.
Take the wounded 6AL and send to MSD for refurbishment.
Apparently, MSD takes a while to repair these boxes and they often fail.
If you have a car with a 6AL, it might make sense to always have a backup (the repaired unit).

That's what I've learned, hope that helps.

[Bill Bulmer]

Ok, guys, I was able to disconnect the two trigger wires coming out of the distributor, and jump the circuit on the wires leading to the coil, and it triggered spark from the coil. Therefore, I think it is just the magnetic pick up that is bad, as jkg suggested.

Now hopefully I can find the right part and install it correctly.

[snapier]

I had the same problem last spring as I was trying to start on my Superformance 1400 after winter storage. After about 2 weeks of trouble shooting, It turned out to be both the Duraspark ignition module and the MSD distributor magnetic pickup at he same time. Very frustrating trouble shooting when your have multiple problems at the same time. The car had NO problems before winter storage.

[pgermond]

Mag pick-up. When they, they go. I now carry a spare and tools to replace it.

FYI - I did the same test and it tested good........ but it was bad.

[trularin]

I highly recommend cutting that ty-wrap. When the coil sends up to 50k to the distributor, it is possible to bleed to "things around it" and you have it wrapped to the trigger module. That maybe why it died in the first place.

Just my $.02 worth.

Tru

[Bill Bulmer]

Thanks trularin, that was how it came from the factory believe it or not.

Ok, I have the cap and rotor off and am now trying to figure out, can I do this job without removing the distributor?

Also, the grommet that goes through the distributor to guide the wires, how is that removed?, as well as the little hold down inside the distributor?

Please see pics attached.

Thank you.

[Bill Bulmer]

I can't get the grommet out where the wires go through the distributor, has anyone done this before?