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Car Surging Under Load - Bad Coil
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DRR Trophy
posted
I need some assistance in diagnosing an issue I am having. I don’t like throwing parts at something if I can help it. My dragster has started surging after it comes off the transbrake. It does not do this in the pits or during the burnout. I have been told by somebody I believe that they have had a similar issue and it was the coil. In trying to talk with MSD, they deny that it could be the coil, because “you either have spark or you don’t.” I have tested everything I can think of to no avail. The fuel pump is set at 20 psi on the bypass and 5.0-5.5 at the regulator under flow. I see no evidence of fuel starvation. The battery voltage is 16.3 during the run. The coil shows a primary resistance of .3 Ohms and secondary of 33 Ohms. All the plug wires are < 40 Ohms/Ft. New set of NGK R5672A-9 plugs. Crank trigger is 65.3 Ohms. All of the wiring to and from the crank trigger and coil are 1.2 Ohms or less. The car just acts like it is cutting on and off about 6 times per second. The Racepak shows the voltage stays steady and the carb pressure fluctuates less than .3 psi. The engine rpm just bounces about 500 rpm each time it cuts out. Thank you for your help!

7720/7730 Ignition
82613 Coil
MagnaFuel ProStar 500 (Filter was cleaned before last race)
MP-9433 Regulator (New Diaphragm)
 
Posts: 1 | Location: Corsicana, TX | Registered: March 30, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of Alaskaracer
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The only time I've had surging was due to low fuel volume/pressure. I had set my regulator with a nitrous flow tool and later found out that what I thought was 6.5 psi was less than 1.5 psi. Cranked up the regulator and that fixed the issue. I've also had issues with a magnafuel pump. What are you checking fuel pressure with? It is possible to have pressure but not enough flow. To rule this out, take the supply line off the regulator, get a one gallon container, and see how long it takes to fill it. It should be about 15 seconds or less if I remember right....

Also need to check to see tank is vented properly, that there isn't an issue inside of one of the hoses where it's coming apart and blocking flow, and there isn't something inside your tank blocking the outlet....

Just a few things to look at. I agree with MSD, a coil is unlikely to cause a surge, they pretty much either work or not. I think it's a fuel issue, just need to find it.


Mark Goulette
Owner/Driver of the Livin' The Dream Racing dragster
www.livinthedreamracing.com
"Speed kills but it's better than going slow!"
Authorized Amsoil Retailer
 
Posts: 1652 | Location: Back home in Alaska! | Registered: February 13, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Trophy
Picture of Thurston
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Had the same problem last season. After replacing the coil, it made one pass and started missing again. Went home and got out the Ohm meter checked every wire involved with the ignition system. It turned out to be the very thin wire between the digital 7 box and the coil. The wire was broke at the crimp but made enough of a connection it ran fine until until you put a load on it, or the vibration would cause a problem going down the track. BTW that connection is now soldered!
 
Posts: 78 | Location: West Michigan | Registered: February 13, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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You have Grid. Look at the Ignition IN and Ignition OUT channels in the Data Acquisition of the Grid DA run. For every Ign input you should have an Ign output and they should be sequential not be broken up. RacePak won’t show you this.

If you think/ suspect coil and don’t want to purchase 8261, then replace the coil with anything available to try. Grid will fire it just fine.

You wrote that the problem does not happen during the BO. I would guess it’s because BO doesn’t require wot. Coils don’t function any different between 6k rpm BO or 6k rpm wot.
 
Posts: 3079 | Location: 53056 | Registered: December 30, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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