MSD Ignition Installation

Covers:
The MSD ignition system is an aftermarket ignition designed to improve the air/fuel combustion. Although there are several MSD units available, they all utilize multiple sparks rather then a single spark to ensure that the air/fuel mixture is fully burned.

The 1993 Probe 4-cylinder with automatic transaxle has the same ignition system as the Probe's 2.5L V-6. They utilize a coil that's internally located within the distributor. In order to properly connect the MSD ignition unit, the distributor will need to be modified.

Overview
Find the three-wire connector at the distributor (Black/Pink, Yellow/Blue, & Yellow/Green). This is the harness you will need to cut. Note the two red wires and two black wires from the MSD ignition unit. The heavy red and heavy black wires are for the power and ground connections. The thinner red and black wires are for connecting the unit to the vehicle. The Magnetic pickup wires are not used.

Required
Distributor Removal
  1. Remove the air cleaner intake tube as follows:
    1. Remove the three mounting nuts.
    2. Loosen the clamp between the intake tube and the air cleaner box.
    3. Remove the intake tube from the vehicle.
  2. Disconnect the ignition wires from the distributor cap.
  3. Disconnect the two wire harnesses from the distributor.
  4. Remove the three distributor cap mounting screws and remove the distributor cap, gasket, and rotor from the vehicle.
  5. Mark the alignment of the distibutor on the cylinder head for proper realigning when reinstalling.
  6. Remove the two distributor mounting bolts and remove the distributor from the vehicle.
Distributor Modification
  1. Locate the wire connector with three wires on the distributor. Disconnect the metal tab that connects wire #1 (yellow/green wire) on the connector to the distributor.
  2. Cut the wire from the distributor that connects to wire #2 (yellow/blue wire) on the connector and attach it to wire #1 on the connector.
Distributor Installation
  1. Install the distributor into the cylinder head, aligning the shaft to the camshaft end. Align the distributor with the mark on the cylinder head made in step 5 of the Distributor Removal procedure. Install the two mounting bolts and tighten to 14-18 ft/lbs.
  2. Install the distributor cap, gasket, and rotor. Install the three mounting screws.
  3. Connect the two wire harnesses to the distributor.
  4. Connect the ignition wires to the distributor cap as shown in image below.

2.5L V6 Ignition Wiring


2.0L 4-Cylinder Ignition Wiring

Unit Installation
  1. Mount the MSD ignition unit.
  2. Disconnect the harness at the distributor with the three wires.
  3. Cut the black/pink wire. Connect the black/pink wire from the distributor to the orange wire from the MSD unit.
  4. Connect the black/pink wire from the vehicle to the red wire from the MSD unit.
  5. Connect the white wire from the MSD unit to the yellow/blue wire.
  6. Cut the yellow/green wire. Connect yellow/green wire from the distributor to the black wire from the MSD unit.
  7. Reconnect the harness to the distributor.
  8. Connect the heavy red wire from the MSD unit directly to the vehicle's positive battery terminal. Do not connect behind a fuse.
  9. Connect the heavy black wire from the MSD unit to the vehicle's negative battery terminal or a solid ground on the chassis.

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