[DeTomaso] MSD 6AL failure modes

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/10/12 4:30:55 PM, cuvee at sbcglobal.net writes:

> Is this just a MSD problem OR do other brands have the same problem? 
> So...is MSD the best? What other brands are out there that do the same job? At 
> least on this Forum you don't seem to hear about the other brands crapping 
> out? "Mallory, Pertronix, Accel, or even the Ford units used in thousands 
> of fords?"
> 
Since I don't know exactly what causes any given ignition to fail, the 
general answer is -ANY electronic assembly- although MSD gets quite a few 
complaints. That said, my two failures with a Ford Duraspark 2 have been strictly 
my own fault: The first was due to an overheated can-of-oil coil that 
exploded, then shorted from having the ignition switch on too long without firing 
the engine. 
The second one was a dead short from a screwdriver due to being in a hurry 
and working in the area of the control box without first disconnecting the 
battery. Fixed the first one one by substituting an e-coil that has no oil 
and is not heat-sensitive. I later found that a dead short will also waste a 
box while leaving the e-coil unaffected. Both failures did nothing to the 
e-distributor's original Hall-effect pickup, either. New far-east-made 
Duraspark boxes are around $45 at any auto store in the universe, and even less from 
recyclers. FWIW- J DeRyke