MSD 8963 Installation
MSD Digital Shift Light
U
P
MODE
D
O
W
N
PROGRAMMING
BUTTONS
RED TO SWITCHED 12 VOLTS
GREEN TO TACH SIGNAL
BLACK TO GROUND
PROGRAMMING
CY - Cylinder Count
12, 10, 8, 6, 6 odd, 4, 2, 2 odd, 1
LuL - Light Intensity
Scale of 9-0 Bright to Dim
Use Up/Down
buttons to adjust
cylinders, intensity
and rpm points.
PN 8963
Parts Included:
1 - Shift Light
1 - Mounting Bracket
1 - GMR Pickup, PN 8918
WARNING: When installing the Shift Light disconnect the battery cables. When disconnecting,
always remove the negative cable first and install it last.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT connect to the coil (-) terminal. The supplied GMR pickup must be used
when installing the Digital Shift Light unless the rpm signal is coming from the tach
output of an MSD Ignition or aftermarket ECU. Damage to the DSL will occur if connected to a high voltage trigger source.
PROGRAMMING
By pressing the two buttons simultaneously, you get the Shift Light into the different
programming modes.
RPM Points: To adjust rpm points, press
the two buttons until the rpm shows. Notice that all but one of the numbers flash.
The position of the steady digit matches
the gear change (the first, second, third or
fourth digit equals each gear). Adjust the
rpm then push the two buttons again to
move to the next gear.
2 - Washers
1 - Brass Screw
1 - Parts Bag
Cylinder Count: The display will read CY
and allows you to select between one to 12cylinder engines using the Up/Down buttons.
Intensity: Control the intensity of the LED and read out. Hold the buttons until LuL displays. Use the
buttons to select from 9 (brightest) to 0 to turn off the shift light.
Self: Self mode will walk through all of the settings programmed into the light. It will first show the
rpm shift points for the four shifts, the cylinder count and light intensity. Start the test mode by pushing either button once Self is displayed. To reset the Self mode, push either button when SELF is
displayed, or turn the power Off.
Each time the DSL is powered on, the LED will display the program values that are set.
INSTALLATION
The Shift Light installs easily with the GMR Pickup or through the tach output terminal of an MSD Ignition Control or aftermarket ECU. It will accept a trigger signal rated from 0-24 volt amplitude. Never
connect the Green Wire directly to the coil negative terminal.
If an ignition control or aftermarket ECU are not being used, the GMR pickup must be connected.
M S D I G N I T I O N • w w w . m sd ig nit io n.c o m • ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 520 0 • F A X ( 915 ) 8 5 7 - 334 4
Figure 1 Digital Shift Light Wiring and Programming.
2
BLACK GROUND
GMR PICKUP
RED
GREEN
SWITCHED
12 VOLT
SIGNAL
OUTPUT
GMR PICKUP
NOTE: The brass screw must be used for proper operation.
PRIMARY COIL (+) WIRE OR
DIESEL INJECTOR 12 VOLT WIRE
WASHER MUST BE ON TOP OF METAL TAB
METAL TAB
COIL
HARNESS
IGNITION
COIL
IGNITION
COIL
IGNITION
COIL
IGNITION
COIL
COIL (+)
12 VOLTS
COIL (-)
TRIGGER 4
COIL (-)
TRIGGER 3
COIL (-)
TRIGGER 2
COIL (-)
TRIGGER 1
GMR PICKUP
GREEN
SHIFT LIGHT
BLACK GROUND
U
P
MODE
D
O
W
N
MAGNETIC
CONNECTOR
NOT USED
TO BATTERY
WHITE
BLACK
ORANGE
WHITE
BLACK
ORANGE
RED
TO BATTERY
TRIGGER INPUT
RED
RED
SWITCHED
12 VOLT
GREEN
BLACK GROUND
U
P
MODE
D
O
W
N
COIL
OPTIONAL 2.2K RESISTOR
FOR NOISE FILTER
Note: If the rpm display
shows interference,
install the supplied
2.2K ohm resistor in-line on the
Green wire.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Figure 2 Installing with an MSD Ignition.
GMR PICKUP INSTALLATION
The MSD GMR pickup can be used with inductive or capacitive ignition types to provide an rpm signal of
30% duration when the ignition coil fires. Two washers are provided with the pickup and must be installed
in one of two positions depending on the type of ignition driving the coil.
Note: For late model applications, it is recommended to have a wiring schematic of the vehicle’s ignition
system.
Note: The shift light must be programmed for 1-cylinder
operation.
M S D I G N I T I O N • w w w . m sd ig nit io n.c o m • ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 520 0 • F A X ( 915 ) 8 5 7 - 334 4
Figure 3 Installation on an Inductive Coil-Per-Cylinder Ignition System.
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