MSD plug wires. Any way to use Solid Core?

[cstreit]

Gang,

THe MSD site says that solid core wires cannot be used with an MSD ignition because of EMI (Electromagnetic interference)

Is there any way around this? (Such as sheilding the MSD unit, or hopefully moving the MSD unit into the passenger compartment.)

I have Jacobs ignition wires that I am really happy with , and would prefer not to trash a perfectly good set of wires...

[Chuck Moreland]

I haven't tried this with the MSD, but if you use solid core with the berus I don't think you will have any problem with EMI.

The berus provide the resistance for EMI control.

[cstreit]

Chuck,

Is the Beru connector the bakolite type L connector?

Jacobs ad's say they generate no radio noise...

[CamB]

Berus are the factory connectors, and they seem to work fine with an MSD. I guess I should caveat that and say that I think there is a possibility the MSD finished off a couple of mine but they were OLD.

Everyone else uses Magnecor.

[Chuck Moreland]

Yes, beru is the brown L-shaped factory connector.

[cstreit]

Cool,

I'm using the beru connectors with Jacobs wiring. The wiring said that it was sheilded with a stainless steel spiral wrap and generates no radio interference... So I think that they should be fine in combo wioth the beru connectors if you're right...

What do you mean that the MSD "finished it off"...??? How did you know?

(I have spare connectors, but obviously need to know when to replace them)

[CamB]

Well, my experience suggests there are 3 kinds of Beru.

1) Working
2) Not working (car runs on 5 cylinders)
3) Ones which work when the engine is cold but quit when it gets hot - something to do with the spark being able to jump across the open internal resistor. This can be hard to diagnose as it is a miss only when hot, and it is hard to test a Beru taken from a hot engine without leaving skin stuck to something hot

My suspicion is that, as something causes the resistor to fail (burn out?) then maybe the MSD can hasten that death thanks to multiple sparks and 10s of 1000s of volts.

But I'm no EE, so don't quote me. To answer your question, if the car starts running on five cylinders, check your Beru connectors.

[cstreit]

Heh heh...

Well I guess that WOULD tell me something wrong eh? here I am thinking of some exotic problem with high rpm missfire or glowing connectors at night...

[cstreit]

Heh heh...

Well I guess that WOULD tell me something wrong eh? here I am thinking of some exotic problem with high rpm missfire or glowing connectors at night...

[CamB]

Yeah, you know when it has happened. I had the problems on the 2.0T engine, and when you lose a cylinder from 110hp, you DEFINITELY know all about it.

I have had the plugs foul slightly on the new engine (bascially a 3.2RS) and I it was a bit more difficult to tell, but still obvious.