
14 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION • 1490 HENRY BRENNAN DR., EL PASO, TEXAS 79936 • (915) 857-5200 • FAX (915) 857-3344
TACH/FUEL ADAPTERS
If your vehicle does not operate correctly or if you experience a no-run situation you probably
need an MSD Tach/Fuel Adapter.
Some vehicles with electronic fuel injection systems may require an MSD Tach/Fuel Injection
Adapter to run properly. This is because many of these systems use the same trigger source to
operate the MSD, the tachometer and the fuel injection. This results in a voltage signal that is too
low to accurately trigger the fuel injection. If your vehicle’s engine starts and then shuts off after a
short period of time or the check engine light turns on then your vehicle will require a Tach/Fuel
Injection Adapter. An MSD Tach Adapter, PN 8912, will usually remedy the problem.
The chart below lists most of the vehicles that require a tach/fuel injection adapter. It is very
important that the tach/fuel adpaters be installed at the same time that the DIS Ignition is installed to
prevent activation of the check engine light. On OBD II equipped vehicles resetting of the check
engine light requires special computer diagnostic equipment. On vehicles not listed install the DIS
before purchasing the adapter, to see if the ignition will operate properly without the adapters.
INSTALLING THE PN 8912 TACH ADAPTERS.
The number of adapters required is determined by the number of cylinders on the engine. Four
cylinder engines will need the PN 8912 Adapter, 6-cylinder and V-8 engines will need two PN 8912's.
Figure 16 shows a PN 8912 installed to a 4-cylinder engine. Note: If you bypass the MSD using the
supplied bypass plug you must disconnect the adapters from the harness.
If you still experience problems after installing the adapters, call the MSD Customer Service
Department for further instruction.
YR VEHICLE ADAPTER QTY
All Mitsubishi Eclipse, Galant, Mirage, Montero, Precis, Expo 8912 1
All Eagle Talon, Summit 8912 1
All Dodge Avenger, Neon, Stratus, Caravan 8912 1
All Chrysler Sebring, Cirrus 8912 1
All Plymouth Breeze, Voyager, Acclaim, Colt, Sundance, Laser 8912 1
'96-'98 Ford Mustang, T-Bird, with 4.6L Engine 8912 2
WARNING: The MSD Digital DIS Series Ignitions are capacitive discharge ignitions. High voltage
is present at the coil primary terminals. Do not touch the coil or connect test
equipment to the terminals.
PRESTART CHECK LIST
• The only wires connected to the coil negative (-) terminals/wires are the MSD Brown/White, Brown/
Green, Brown/Yellow, Brown/Violet.
• The only wire connected to the coil positive (+) terminals/wires is the MSD Brown/Orange.
• The only wires connected to the factory harness wires (trigger input) are the MSD White, Green,
Yellow, Violet.
• The small Red wire of the MSD is connected to a switched 12 volt source (factory harness).
• If using a MSD Digital DIS Ignition on a 4-cylinder engine equipped with single coils per cylinder,
the firing cycle select must be programmed for no wastespark (720° firing S4 - Off).
• The MSD power leads are connected directly to the battery positive and negative terminals.
• The battery is connected and fully charged if not using an alternator.
• The engine is equipped with at least one ground strap to the chassis.