MSD Ignition Box

[TimG]

Is anyone familiar with a MSD Digital 7 programmable ignition box? I have a model #7530 in a car and last weekend I turned on the ignition and smoke billowed out from the ignition box under the dash before I even cranked the car. I cut power and removed the box, it smells of burnt wire and is definitely fried. All other items seem to work well with the box out, fuel pumps, fan, lights and starter all perform well. I’ve ordered a new one, #7530T that appears to be a direct replacement. Will this need to be programmed before installation? At $900 a pop, I don’t want to burn out too many.

[Chevy454]

It comes with a default program/settings, but I'm guessing if you're running a programmable box that there's a specific reason, so I'd say it's time to dig out the laptop!

BTW, did you happen to notice the red LED light flashing? Being as you saw smoke I'd say it's a gonner, but it has a self-check [will flash trouble codes] and protection feature...my Digital 6 did.

[TimG]

I'm sure the laptop will be necessary, thank you for the default information. The box is mounted under the passenger dash, I just cut the power and grabbed a fire extinguisher in case it got nasty. I could hook it up to another external battery to check, but it stinks and burnt rubber is on the bottom of the box after I removed it from the mount bracket.

[napa68]

You run that in a midyear? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

[TimG]

No, in a 427 Cobra. The mid year has the K66 original ignition.

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No, in a 427 Cobra. The mid year has the K66 original ignition. </div></div>

All right.....we're gonna need pics, of both.

Jake

[EZ Nova]

Sorry to say, that's a more common problem then what you think. The Digi 7's just seem to get to a point in there life and they say &quot;thats it, I'm done&quot;! Sorry to say seen this happen many, many times. IF yours is as bad as you say, I don't even think it's worth sending back to get it checked out.

[Chevy454]

I think a lot depends on when it was made...supposedly their are some &quot;potted&quot; units (2004 sticks in my mind) that can't be repaired, but I've always heard that if you send what you believe is a &quot;bad&quot; unit to MSD to check that you'll get it back labeled as &quot;nothing wrong&quot; but that they're often fixed without mentioning any problems/repairs/costs. I've never done this, but have heard this for several years now...

EZ: what about the Digi6s? I've got an early Digi6 that I've ran for several years that I bought because it was cheaper in the long run once you bought an AL6+retard+limiter...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No, in a 427 Cobra. The mid year has the K66 original ignition. </div></div>
I bet most of the parts between the k66 and MSD could be swapped and still work...they're both trigger driven cdi setups essentially. I've used an MSD reluctor wheel and a stock Chrysler hei reluctor wheel in otherwise stock GM dizzys to trigger an MSD. Some of the Mopar guys in the Pure Stock class gripe about the Chevys getting to upgrade their points to a better ignition setup, but I always tell them several of the GM cars could go k66 *legally* and basically be running MSDs.

[TimG]

Guys, I've put in the replacement box after checking all the wires and the car starts and runs fine. I think the trouble was with the old box. I don't know when it was installed, no date appears on it.