Using "Search" All day Here. '89 3SFE Ignition Problem(s)

[sdhartney]

Hi Guys....
You folks really mix it up when we start talking about performance upgrades, quite a group here!!

I'm not really looking for performance, just relaibility. I've been through two Ignition Coils now, and I'm about to go on the third one if I can prove that's the problem again. This time I don't see any high voltage "tracking" in the cap, or anywhere around the coil, and the problem is best described as inntermittant, as it can't be tested cold.

Somewhere around 40 minutes after I drive the car, it starts a "no load" miss, and at idle to take-off it sputters like crazy 'till the revs come up.

After it cools down again, the cycle begins all over again.

What I had in mind, after reading ALL your other posts was to replace the whole system with something like the MSD System, which consists of:
1) MSD-6A Ignition (MSD-6200) $149.88
2) MSD-8207 Blaster SS Coil $35.95
3) MSD-84039 Coil / Cap Conversion $15.88
4) MSD-8910(8910-HEI) Tach Adapter $25.95

All this comes to $227.66 plus tax and shipping.

How reliable are these systems?? Are there better prices than what I see at Summit Racing? What about the Jacobs Systems ??

I'm absolutely sure I'd have better luck than what I've been experiencing, but I don't want to have anymore problems with this Ignition System, Ever again!!

[Tommy]

they are reliable, friend of mine has had one for over a year, with no problems. Only recommendation is that you might have to change your plugs on a regular basis because MSD's tend to eat plugs for breakfast.

btw: if you figure out how to correctly install in, PLEASE let me know, ive had one for 6 months, cant get it installed for the life of me!

[88 LE]

Originally posted by sdhartney

1) MSD-6A Ignition (MSD-6200) $149.88
2) MSD-8207 Blaster SS Coil $35.95
3) MSD-84039 Coil / Cap Conversion $15.88
4) MSD-8910(8910-HEI) Tach Adapter $25.95

All this comes to $227.66 plus tax and shipping.

How reliable are these systems?? Are there better prices than what I see at Summit Racing? What about the Jacobs Systems ??

I have all the parts you listed above on my gen 2 (88 3S-FE).

It works fine and I no longer have to deal with the stock coil, their known to go bad on gen 2 Camrys.

Make sure you get the right tach adapter. MSD 8910-EIS. 8910-HEI is discontinued and replaced by 8910-EIS (what MSD told me when I emailed them).

MSD-84039 is a coil wire and post.

I ordered all the parts from Summit Racing. You can try Jegs (jegs.com), but it'll probably be around the same price.

Don't know anything about the Jacobs systems.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by Stevethecleric
btw: if you figure out how to correctly install in, PLEASE let me know, ive had one for 6 months, cant get it installed for the life of me!

The thread below has some instructions, but it applies to a 5S-FE. The basic hookup on a 3S-FE is the same, but the coil is wired differently.

MSD Ignition


Pictures of my MSD setup:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289847013


Edit:

Instructions for a 3S-FE:

The instructions are pretty much the same as the ones for a 5S-FE, except its been rewritten for a 3S-FE.

Coil section below refers to a aftermarket coil (ie. MSD Blaster SS, etc..). If you use the stock coil (don't know why you would), ignore the coil section below and ask me for instructions.

MSD box
------------

Big red wire: +12V
Big black wire: ground

Orange wire: Coil + (positive)
Black wire: Coil - (negative)

Both (orange and black) goto your new coil.


Red wire: hookup to the brown wire on ignitor (+12V switched (ignition)).

White wire: Not used. Tape off or heatshrink the connector on the end of this wire.


Tach adapter (MSD 8910-EIS)
-------------------------------------

Red wire: hookup to the brown wire on ignitor (+12V switched (ignition)).
Black wire: hookup to black wire on ignitor (tach signal).

Ignitor is located on the left side of the battery (see link to pics above).

Black plug with green and purple wire: Hook it up to the plug on the MSD box. You might have to use the extension harness that comes with the MSD depending on where you mount the tach adapter.


Coil
--------

1. On the top of the distributor is a plug with 2 wires. Unplug this to disable the stock coil.

See link to pics above for which plug to pull.

2. Modify the distributor cap. Theres 2 spring loaded contacts on the inside of the distributor, remove one of them (which one you remove is up to you). Make sure you remove both the contact and spring.

Drill thru where the contact was. Use the screw that comes with the coil wire & post (MSD 84039 or MSD 8403) to determine the size of the hole that needs to be drilled.

The post needs to be modified, it won't sit straight onto the dist. cap as is. Modify as necessary, install, and seal around the outside of it with silicone.

3. Mount the coil (MSD Blaster SS, MSD Blaster 2/3, etc..) and hook it up.

Orange wire from MSD is coil + (positive)
Black wire from MSD is coil - (negative)

Hookup the coil wire (from MSD 84039 or MSD 8403) to coil and dist. cap.


P.S. Instructions have been stickied, so I don't have to type this out again.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t17918.html

[sdhartney]

Originally posted by 88 LE
.....Don't know anything about the Jacobs systems.

After reading further here re: the Jacobs Systems, everyone here is referring to them as crap, shit, way overpriced, not worth a penny, etc.....

I've still not proven my current coil is the culprit, when it's cold or even running temp. it specs. out fine.

What I've been needing is a junkyard distributor/coil to slip in while this is going on, just for diagnosis purposes.

That MSD is sure sounding nice....