Engine Turns Over Without Start

Ok guys, here again. I have an 86 2001, had WOT issues before, got those taken care of with a firing order issue. Fixed the firing order and the boat ran great for about 10-15 min. As the engine warmed up, it started sputtering and missing at high rpms, I could pull back to 2000 and run fine. Headed back to the ramp at 2000, idled a while and the engine cooled off. Boat ran great for a min or so and then it started sputtering again at high rpms. Came back to idle and tooled around for a few and then it just died. Got pulled to the ramp and came home. Checked for spark no visual in the plug wires, then no visual with the coil wire at about 1/4" from the thermostat housing. Figured the coil was bad since I bought it right after a EI conversion with "oh no" petronix. Replaced the coil with a 12v mallory coil, still no spark with the coil at 1/4" or so from thermostat housing. Where else should I look????? By the way, engine turns over fine, just no spark.

8122pbrainard wrote: Well if it was my boat, I'd put the point set back in!!

Me too. 2 of my friends tried the Pertronix, and both had similar high end issues. One went back to points, the other swapped to the Prestolite kit- both solved the issues.

rmm025 wrote: I agree, but right now I can't get spark from the coil, I am getting a multimeter today and start working my way back from the coil. Any suggestions on what else to look for?

Do you have voltage (either 12V if the resistor is bypassed or ~9V if its still in line) to the positive terminal on the coil? If so, then you either have a bad coil or a bad ignition module. Im betting on the Pertronix!

rmm025 wrote: When I attached my + & - leads to the ignition coil, 0V.

So you put your positive DMM lead on the coil "+". Where did you put your negative DMM lead? If you put it on the coil "-" that was not correct- it needs to go to a good ground (a clean bolt on the engine). The coil "-" is not a ground, its the trigger signal from the distributor. If your module never tells the coil to fire (equivalent to points being closed) then you will see 12V or close to it on the coil "-" at all times as well. That makes for a zero voltage difference between coil "+" and "-", so Im still betting on a busted module!

What all do I need to convert back to points?

I tested again tonight. I have 12V on the positive side of the coil. Pulled EI module, and still have 12V, but when I turn the engine over, no spark from the coil to the block. Should I be able to see spark from the coil with no EI module attached? Does anyone know what EI conversion kit this is???

Is there any way to test this module before I purchase something eles?

Rmm - The - side of coil has to be grounded, then ungrounded. The coils sparks when the electrical current going thru the coil is interrupted. Just pulling it off the terminal will not break the circuit if the module was bad, because there was no current flowing in the 1st place.

PS, it looks like you already removed the module, so this advice is probably too late - the air gap between the star wheel (called the reluctor)& the pickup coil is supposed to be .010 inch. If that had shifted, it could be the problem.

Sorry, but I have to LOL. This is why my tag line says "Poobie's wife not a newbie", just break her in easy.

In the long run it is sooooooooo nice/worth it to be able to walk down to the dock, turn the key and not have to worry "what's gonna/might happen". It's all worth the endurance.... and I didn't even have to shoot him. Have her call me if she's at her total wits end.



Keith, when do we get our honorary "Poobie's Wife" status?   

Amy

SNobsessed wrote: The nice thing about a Mallory is that you can easily customize the advance curve - I did some of this & could tell a difference in performance.

can you explain me more about this? I've been considering getting a whole new dizzy lately or having mine rebuild here and see if We could improve the advance curve.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me. Especially Boat Dr. Although he didn't pipe in, he sent me an older prestolite ei dizzy and helped me with some wiring issues. The boat cranks and idles fine, looks like I will hit the water tomorrow to see how she really does.