Mallory Ignition Problems

Bundy · Feb 11, 2009

I was hoping it was a fuel problem, but i replaced everything from the regulator back and it happened again.

Runs great, starts everytime but on the freeway about 8 miles into my commute it just dies- no sputtering, just instant death. it starts again with no problems but it died 3 more times on a 15 mile drive to work on the freeway, at about 2500-4500 rpms. the last time it died i was in 4th at about 4000rpm at 70-75 mph and it died and then backfired so loud i just about shit my pants. :-[

i have the Mallory Hyfire IV-AL cpu controlled ignition with the Mallory Comp9000 unilite breakerless distributor.

Is there a way to get codes from it so i can see if it is the ignition or something? Maybe a bronco or Mallory specialists in SoCal i can take it to?

I don't know anything about ignition systems, so talk to me like i am a little kid

cesco · Feb 11, 2009

Had a similar problem with my car. I ended up taking it to have it tuned and they pulled the brand new distributor and bought one from ford and that fixed that problem. don't know if you have any mustang tuning shops in your area to take it to.

Bundy · Feb 11, 2009

maybe i should look into replacing the distributor then... i don't know anything about them so i hope it's easy! i wonder if i should start with the coil?

ugly74 · Feb 11, 2009

I had a mallory unilite in my dodge and bronco, and they both did that. it was the module. $80 I think.

thegreatjustino · Feb 11, 2009

Mallory = humongous piece of crap..... Enough said....

Bundy · Feb 11, 2009

ugly74 said:
I had a mallory unilite in my dodge and bronco, and they both did that. it was the module. $80 I think.

thegreatjustino said:
Mallory = humongous piece of crap..... Enough said....

Well this is good info that i was unware of. it sure looks flashy though!

The PO put it on and i don't know anything about it. What's a better setup for TBI?

hucktruck · Feb 11, 2009

I had a problem with mine a while back. It ended up being the coil. I think it ran me about $75 or so. No problems since though.

hmaspec · Feb 12, 2009

Hi
Had the same problem with my Mallory unit, was so intermittent that I didn't want to drive my Bronco after tearing out everything and ready to put the ford unit back in I got a call......change your ballast resistor....last try replaced the ballast resistor and that was 80,000 miles ago! My experience, good luck and Aloha from Hawaii! Howard;D

Bundy · Feb 12, 2009

thanks Howard! I got a response from Mallory on the issue, here is what they suggested

Solution:
Sounds like RF noise is false triggering the processor and shutting down the box. Here are a few things I found that will help. 1) Make sure you mount the box at least 18" away from the dist. 2)Twist the pair of wires that go to the coil from the box. 3) The big black wire that goes to the battery negative is better to go to chassis, and make sure the housing in grounded also. 4) Use a Spiral Core wire and non-resistor plug. 5) make sure to use the dielectric grease on the plug boots.

My question is, what is RF noise- is that Radio Frequency? also when he mentions mounting "the box" 18" away from the dist he means the cpu box, not the coil?

StnePny · Feb 12, 2009

People swear by Mallory.

I'm totally agaisnt them. I was told that they work on the photo-cell principal. Example would be like a smoke detecter. When smoke goes by the photo-cell it breaks up the light beam & the detecter goes off.

Well think of dust or silt floating around, under the distributor cap, if the light beam is broken then your rig will run ruff.

Just my .02 cents worth.

67PONY · Feb 12, 2009

StnePny said:
People swear by Mallory.

I'm totally agaisnt them. I was told that they work on the photo-cell principal. Example would be like a smoke detecter. When smoke goes by the photo-cell it breaks up the light beam & the detecter goes off.

Well think of dust or silt floating around, under the distributor cap, if the light beam is broken then your rig will run ruff.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Have you had this problem? How does your distributor cap get that dirty inside? It would take a large chunk of dirt to disrupt the beam. A chunk that large wouldn't be able to get under the cap, much less "float around".

The photocoupler in a Mallory works on the principle of completely BLOCKING the light from the LED with a shutter, not by detecting scattered light as in a smoke detector. It is similar technology, but a much different application.

A bad diode in my alternator just took out the original photocoupler module in my Uni-Lite after working perfectly for 19 years. I replaced it for $40, and am expecting similar performance and durability from this one.

67PONY · Feb 12, 2009

ugly74 said:
I had a mallory unilite in my dodge and bronco, and they both did that. it was the module. $80 I think.

You can buy the modules for half of that price now:

http://www.amazon.com/Mallory-6100M..._2?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1234468526&sr=8-2

Bundy · Feb 12, 2009

Terry-

thanks for sticking up for Mallory but what do you think about their diagnosis?

What is RF noise?? you sound like you have good experiences with Mallory..

Edit: assuming it is Radio frequency, WTF would be causing that??! i am going to start by checking all the wiring, but if it is RF noise WTF then?

ugly74 · Feb 12, 2009

67PONY said:
You can buy the modules for half of that price now:

http://www.amazon.com/Mallory-6100M..._2?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1234468526&sr=8-2

oh good! I fixed the one for my dodge, and it's been fine ever since. but I still have the busted one for my bronco on a shelf. it has a pertronix (drop in)in it now.

Bundy · Feb 12, 2009

Hijackers!

67PONY · Feb 12, 2009

Sorry Bundy! I'd help if I could, but I just have the standard Mallory distributor setup. I don't have the external box, and it sounds like that might be part of your issue.

StnePny · Feb 12, 2009

It was never pieces of dirt, but, silt like dust that would get under the cap. You could take the cap off and see the little dust film, just blow on it a couple of times and it would cure the problem.

I know people like them, I just perfer to use something else.

67PONY · Feb 12, 2009

Bundy said:
Terry-

thanks for sticking up for Mallory but what do you think about their diagnosis?

What is RF noise?? you sound like you have good experiences with Mallory..

Edit: assuming it is Radio frequency, WTF would be causing that??! i am going to start by checking all the wiring, but if it is RF noise WTF then?

I have a document at home that goes through a quick procedure to diagnose the module in the dizzy. I will try to get that to you. It is easy and worth trying just to see if it is simply a module issue. PM me your email address if you would and I'll send it to you while I'm home tomorrow.

67PONY · Feb 12, 2009

In the meantime, there is a GREAT deal of information available here:

http://www.malloryperformance.com/AskTechKnowledgebase.aspx

Mallory Ignition Problems

Bundy

Bronco Guru

cesco

Sr. Member

Bundy

Bronco Guru

ugly74

Bronco abuser

thegreatjustino

Red Head Grease Monkey

Bundy

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hucktruck

Sr. Member

hmaspec

Jr. Member

Bundy

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StnePny

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67PONY

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67PONY

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Bundy

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ugly74

Bronco abuser

Bundy

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67PONY

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StnePny

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67PONY

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67PONY

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