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I am not sure if this one should be here or not but I got this 1989 Chevy Camaro with a 5.7L engine. No spark. The owner installed a MSD performance distributor and coil. I am suspecting a faulty ignition module or the coil pickup but how do I go about testing it? The original parts were easy to check but this one is different than the original. This coil pickup and module is all one piece. Anybody have ideas on how to figure this one? The MSD company fellows say they just sell them, know nothing of diagnosis. And, places that handle them are saying the same thing. Where do I turn? I am tremendously frustrated with what should be a simple diagnosis.

Is it an msd hei distributor?

brianp87 wrote:Is it an msd hei distributor?

Yes it is with an external coil.

Sorry I hadn't mentioned it.

SO it has the hei coil in top of the distributor and and external or an msd box like the 6al box?

What I do on these is pull up the msd wiring diagram and just test the powers and grounds. If it has everything it needs and doesn't work then well. If I have the specifics I can try to help find a diagram or something.

brianp87 wrote:SO it has the hei coil in top of the distributor and and external or an msd box like the 6al box?

The coil on this one is not on the top of the distributor but is mounted separately like the 5.7s have it on the right rear intake manifold studs. If I check the coil like I usually do the regular HEI GM ignition coils from OEM, I get good ohms readings while testing with my DVOM as per On Demand specs.

My thought was to test the integrity of the ignition module and the coil pickup before replacing. We here are disgnosis driven as opposed to being a shotgun parts replacer till the vehicle is fixed.

Some times ohm tests on coils and ignition wires can be deceiving. I have never seen a hei msd with the coil not on top of the distributor. Is there and msd part # on it. Does it have an msd 6al box also?

Tim Martin wrote:My thought was to test the integrity of the ignition module and the coil pickup before replacing. We here are disgnosis driven as opposed to being a shotgun parts replacer till the vehicle is fixed.

As am I .

Heres the hei's im used to and have used

brianp87 wrote:Some times ohm tests on coils and ignition wires can be deceiving. I have never seen a hei msd with the coil not on top of the distributor. Is there and msd part # on it. Does it have an msd 6al box also?

Sorry I need to expose my ignorance brianp87 but I do not know if it has a 6al box or not. I am not familiar with that. I never got into high performance parts.

Its just a electronic igniton box made by msd that's were the coil would get its power from. I just want to know exactly what set up you have so I can try to help if I can.

Here is a pic of the 6al on my boat

Most likely it is just a replacement dist made by MSD and wired like the GM part it replaces.

That's what Im guessing also. If its not an msd hei id test like oe.

Ok. I been testing these oem ignition coil pickups and ignition modules for years now. And they are always separate pieces. The problem is that this on this msd setup, the module is connected to the coil pickup. The only way to separate them is to cut the wires. Now how do I test that?

Can you post a pic of the set up? That might help to clarify what you are working with.

Is this the dist with three wire connector coming out that goes direct to coil? Or does it plug to factory connectors?

Not really informed on the MSD system. Haven't worked in a G.M. one in years but when I did I think there was a fuse in the side of the coil pack. Wasn't there external controls to advance the timing so the driver could adjust it when driving?. When I did work on these I found many times the fail was a wiring issue on the vehicle side of the M.S.D. system. Any Scotch Locks in sight I always removed them. They cause so many failures. I wish the person that invented them along with the manufacturer of compression fittings that are "safe" for use in brake systems would take a long walk off a short pier. Just keeping it clean.

How did you make out on this one?