I bought 2 pickups at the same time (rockauto). One had an incorrect double-bullet connector and made erratic connections. I had to compare closely to tell. Perhaps your new one from that lot. Does MSD detail which way to connect the two distributor pickup wires? It matters. If not, try it the other way. I doubt anybody but MSD could tell you if their box is pickier about the pickup level, and I doubt they would fess up if it was touchier.
