total loss issues....

[RaisinBread]

Hey guys I can't figure out why I don't have any spark... air gap on the pickups is within spec, tried 2 sets of brand new coils, brand new pickups, brand new flywheel. The only thing that isn't brand new is the brain... i hope its not bad.

I get a rapid blink for about a second when I turn the motor over and then it goes to a blink every second. I thought that meant a pickup problem so I tried to jumper the wires, bypassing the pickups and it would blink and then go back to the 1 blink per second.

Anyone else have this issue?

Thanks,
Hoang

 

[Waternut]

I'm assuming you have a multi channel MSD. I've never had this issue before but based on a quick search of the instructions, it says when the engine is running and the LED blinks then an input trigger problem exists. From the sounds of it, your engine isn't running.

I'm guessing you've got a ground issue or a start/stop switch wiring problem. Make sure everything that is supposed to be grounded is somehow connected to the negative battery terminal through a non-painted/conductive surface. ie not the hull, engine mounts, or total loss mounting plate. You should be on the case, head, or negative battery terminal. For the brain, I run dedicated power and ground wires to the battery. For little things like the solenoid, I have a stud on the total loss plate but then I have another wire running from that stud to the battery.

 

[RaisinBread]

Grounds are good, I added extra grounds from the plate to the battery with a pair if jumper cables... To the cases and the battery. Stillno difference, I have checked the wiring over and over again and can't see anything wrong.

 

[Matt_E]

If changing coils, pickups, and flywheel didn't help, the brain is dead.

You can try bypassing the pickups by shorting the pickup wires on the brain side together. If the brain is okay, you should get a spark doing this.

 

[Waternut]

I have checked the wiring over and over again and can't see anything wrong.

You won't as long as you think you have everything the way the schematic is. Describe in detail or take good pictures of how you have this thing wired up. Maybe we can pick out something that's wrong. I'm not trying to make you look like an idiot or anything but I'd think you want a good answer before paying for a new brain and I've seen some real silly stuff where the installer misinterpreted the directions.

 

[Cliff]

check your grounds and then check them again. they HAVE to be GOOD grounds

 

[Matt_E]

You won't as long as you think you have everything the way the schematic is. Describe in detail or take good pictures of how you have this thing wired up. Maybe we can pick out something that's wrong. I'm not trying to make you look like an idiot or anything but I'd think you want a good answer before paying for a new brain and I've seen some real silly stuff where the installer misinterpreted the directions.

Quite simply, if the brain has power via the 12V and the temp power wire, is properly grounded, has the coils connected, and won't fire if the pickup wires are shorted, it ain't working.

 

[RaisinBread]

the brain has power, grounds are good, i shorted out the pickup wires and still no go. I have a spare brain that i'll try out and see what happens.

This isn't my first total loss install, i did use the shifty mod this time but the violet wire is getting 12 volts and the start turns over fine. Maybe i'll try buypassing that this time.

 

[RaisinBread]

damnit! bad brain..... i just got done testing it with another one and got spark...

damnit, i was hoping it was something cheaper....

 

[Pablo]

Well you answered yourself...good detective work. I just put my TL in yesterday and had it wired top to bottom with all new connections. Set a rough gestimate for static and couldn't get a spark. I changed coils, relays, connections, and batteries. Couldn't get a spark. I went and dug out an old, crusty on/off switch to replace the one I had just bought hours before and DAMMIT if it didn't spark and do right. I was hoping it would be something simple, like that, for you. Sucks to hear that news.