MSD-7al-3 problems?

Engine has a mid rpm range miss so I check the timing and it's at 22', but only advances to 32'. Tried to reset initial timing back to 14' and the engine doesnt want to idle. I have sent this MSD box back before for the timing going crazy. what else could it be? Here we go , coil, dist, dist gear, bad mechanical advance, plugs/ cap and rotor,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Do you have zero chips in the timing retards or have all the retard terminals grounded?

What distributor are you using?

Yes zero chip in all timing retards and I am running a MSD pro billet magnetic trigger dist. Pretty simple. It is starting to act like the rev limiter is coming on.

I acts like the rev limiter is coming in . I had the same problem when it was new and sent it back to MSD, they replaced a resistor board and sent it back. I got about 30 passes on it and it's starting to do the same thing.I will swap the box out and if its the box I'm really pissed.

I had problems with my 7AL3, changed out to the 7AL2 Plus and haven't had a problem since. My timing was moving around also, and I had zero chips on all for retards as well.

My 7AL3 is back at MSD right now ,for the 3rd time in the last 18 months!! I'm not real pleased with it at ALL. $169 last trip to fix it. At least this time it just completely quit after 2 passes of of clicking on and off at full throttle. Hopefully it didn't lift a head gasket or something worse this time!! It may have to find a new home

I just talked to MSD and they're going to send me a different 7AL3 since mine has been back 3 times in the last 18 months. I hope it's better than the last one!!

I would have them send you an 7AL2 Plus instead, seriously, unless you need the features of the 7AL3.

I know some have had issues with the 7AL-3's. but I've had one since my car was new in 1998 and (knock on wood) I haven't had the first issue with it. I guess it's cause I bought a used box out of a P/S truck to keep for a spare. I've tried blaming the box for troubles a few times but it's never caused any.

A friend and I chased 7AL3 gremlins after switching from 6AL and 7AL2 boxes. After the boxes made repeated trips back to Texas for repairs, (MSD kept saying they were OK when they received them.) we started looking at other stuff. We found that we had to readjust rotor phase in order to make the car run right.
That is to say that when we swapped a 7AL3 into a good running car (removing either a 6AL or a 7AL3) the rotor phase had to be changed in order to get the car down the track. No, I can't explain it, either, but......

Anyway, since yours was running OK before, then developed the problem....I doubt that's your trouble, but I thought you guys might wanna know.

The 7AL-2 Plus is a very good ignition.........if a guy needs more it looks like jumping to 7 Digital is the way to go.

cool40 wrote:i've been told the 3box was a pos,but i never had one.

So far I would have to agree. I is a shame to have a back up box just to know you can go racing for the weekend.