INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 15
AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION • 1490 HENRY BRENNAN DR., EL PASO, TEXAS 79936 • (915) 857-5200 • FAX (915) 857-3344
TROUBLESHOOTING
Every MSD Digital DIS Ignition undergoes numerous quality control checks including a four hour
burn-in test. If you experience a problem with your MSD, our research has shown that the majority
of problems are due to improper installation or poor connections.
The Troubleshooting section has several checks and tests you can perform to ensure proper
installation and operation of the MSD. If you have any questions concerning your MSD, call our
Customer Service Department at (915) 855-7123, Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm mountain time.
MISSES AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS
Generally, a miss or hesitation at higher rpm is usually not caused by the ignition. Most probable
causes include a coil or plug wire failure, arcing from the plug boot to ground. Several areas to
inspect are:
• Always inspect the plug wires at the coil and at the plug for a tight connection and visually
inspect for cuts, abrasions or burns.
• Inspect the positive (+) and negative (-) coil terminal/wire connections. Because the MSD is a
Capacitive Discharge ignition and it receives a direct 12 volt source directly from the battery,
there will be voltage at the coil positive (+) terminal with the key turned On. During cranking or
while the engine is running, very high voltage will be present at the coil. Do not connect any test
equipment to the coil positive (+) or negative (-) terminals/wires.
WARNING: Do not touch the coil terminals during cranking or while the engine is running.
• Make sure that the battery is fully charged and the connections are clean and tight. If you are not
running an alternator this is an essential check.
• Is the engine running lean? Inspect the spark plugs and complete fuel system.
• Inspect all wiring connections for corrosion or damage. Remember to always use proper
connections followed by soldering and seal the connections completely.
If everything checks out, use the following procedure to test the ignition for spark. MSD also offers
an Ignition Tester, PN 8996, which can be used to check the entire ignition system, tachometers,
rpm activated switches and shift lights without removing them from the vehicle.
Figure 16 MSD DIS-2 IGNITION WITH PN 8912 ADAPTER
