Guest zfan Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Funny thing has been happening to me lately. I am driving along and the car will just die like I turned the key off. After several attempts to start it it will just fire back up and sometimes run fine and other times it will just do the same thing again with no warning. Could it be a bad ignition switch? I have all MSD ignition system and can't find any problems upon inspection. MSD says they will either run or not but not intermitant. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 All I can think of (aside from the switch) is maybe the ignition coil is bad? Iv had it happen to me; one of the winding in the coil breaks, and after a while it heats up and breaks the conection, killing the ignition system. After a few mins, it cools down (wire contracts) and makes the conection again, and the car starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Check your fusible links and negative battery terminal for corrosion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 570Z Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 If your entire ignition system checks out, put in a constant power switch. You know, hook a switch (mount it under the dash or something) straight to the battery, then straight to your MSD. It ain't pretty, but I had to do that, seeing that be the problem. But before I put in the MSD stuuf with the V8, the old engine would do that. The engine may be flooding with gas, and I had to put in a fuel pressure regulator. They're not very expensive, and that may put an end to the stalling. Those Z carbs like to stay at around or a little less than 3PSI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumo Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a defective ignition module sitting in the distributor. Although out of all the GM cars i had i only had this problem once. It is more prevalent on Ford ignition modules rather than GM. Hope it helps. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Mike -check the leads to your fuel pump too. I had that problem with my Z years ago. The bayonet connectors just behind the passenger seat were loose and would connect and reconnect. If it gets to be too much, though, you could always park it at my place for a year or two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Bill, Seemed to stop on its own..knock on wood!!! I have not been driving it as much either, maybe that's it I cleaned up some connections and lowered fuel pressure to 5-6 psi. Thanks for the store it offer Bill My wife would like it for sure! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Funny thing has been happening to me lately. I am driving along and the car will just die like I turned the key off. After several attempts to start it it will just fire back up and sometimes run fine and other times it will just do the same thing again with no warning. Could it be a bad ignition switch? I have all MSD ignition system and can't find any problems upon inspection. MSD says they will either run or not but not intermitant. Mike I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a defective ignition module sitting in the distributor. Although out of all the GM cars i had i only had this problem once. It is more prevalent on Ford ignition modules rather than GM. Hope it helps. 8) Dude i JUST had this problem 3am in VEGAS! It was the ignition module. A cool guy sincity280zx (rory) from the Sin City Z club came out at 4am with a distributor. He saved my ass! Occasionally my car would shut off on the freeway, and while coasting to a stop without turning the key off, the car would just start right back up. I knew it was an ignition problem, just didnt know where. I figured it out in Vegas when my car wouldnt start, period. I was messing with the ignition module by tapping on it with a pen, it started up once, and when i closed the hood, the car shut off permanently. Definately the same issues you are having zfan. Im hoping you have a zx with ignition module, or my post is worthless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 1971 240Z with a 383. All MSD set up. MSD Pro billet distributor, 6A box and MSD Blaster 2 coil. I think it is the Key switch/ignition. It took a dump on me 2 times last night! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 I FINALLY found the problem with my car just dying while driving along. I have replaced the ignition switch, all grounds were checked, new connections made, new MSD high vibration coil and endless checks only to have car die and the most in oppertune times. DO NOT believe MSD reps when they say the MSD boxes either work or don't but never intermitten...Bullpucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My MSD 6a crapped on me but only intermittenly. I just purchased a MSD6al and the problems are now solved. I did hit the rev limiter twice last night. It's only set at 6k. I need a 6500 rpm chip. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Shasteen Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 .., DO NOT believe MSD reps when they say the MSD boxes either work or don't but never intermitten...Bullpucky!!!! Mike Congrats on solving your problem. I HATE them ole ignition problems with a passion. I would have also said to replace the coil first. When you combine people, cars, and electronics - ANYTHING can happen, regardless of what their engineers tell you. My folks had the same problem with their brand new 1972 Caddy (yea, I'm dating myself). I was just a kid then but that was my first automotive lesson I learned. Dad was about to pull his hair out. The Cad kept dieing at the most inopportune times. Some guy pulled over to help out and told us it was the coil, described the way the coil worked, and instructed us to replace the coil. Dad replaced the coil and never had that problem again. The same symptom that happend to you happened to Dad's Cad in that it would die, but only after the engine reached operating temp's. Then once the engine (coil) cooled down the car would start right up. Glad to hear you figured it out. Now go take your frustration out on some poor suspecting F-Body! Kevin, (Yea,Still an Inliner) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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