Engine quit running, no spark.-------Resolved!

I had a coil go on me last summer. They are very easy to swap.
I ended up buying two new ones and now keep a spare on board.
 
Don't think anyone has looked at it yet. Very slow to get repairs around here. I even pay with cash money! If nobody starts by this afternoon, I may swap them coils myself.
 
My story was actually in many ways the highlight of our vacation last year.

We stayed overnight at Montauk Yacht Club on our way to Block Island.
When trying to leave, one engine wouldn't start.

Me and my 15yr old daughter walked across the street to get starter fluid....that verified there was not a fuel issue.
Went back, picked up plugs, cap and rotor. That didn't help.
I tried to schedule a mechanic but they were talking days away.
Along my travels, I found two mobile mechanics I convinced to come take a look after they get done at 5pm, I pay cash, etc.

After installing cap and rotor, I threw in the towel, sat down and had a beer.
My kid wanted to keep going...but I told her I would wait for mechanics, I'm on vacation.
She asked what will they do? I said start swapping parts until it starts.
She then asked, what would they swap first? I said the coil.
She then opens the bilge and asks, which one is the coil?

She swaps them and engine started. The look on her face was awesome!
I put bad coil in other engine to verify that wouldn't start...we had our culprit.

Back over to the mobile mechanics...in case they had a coil. No such luck but they called a local marina for me. I tipped them and thanked them.
Next step, rent bikes and peddle a couple miles to the marina, he closed at 5, it was 4:30.
Sure enough they ordered the wrong coil (my fear since my ignition is a year they changed things).
He ordered the right coil, I sat had a beer, she had a well deserved ice cream.

9am next day, on bikes again, retrieved coil, put in and shoved off by 10.

My daughter says THAT was the highlight of our Port Jeff, Montauk, Block Island, Essex Island trip!!

Works for me :-)
 
To bypass all the electrical connections, try a simple hot-wire. Run wire from the Batt(+) to the coil(+). Coil(+) is the side that doesn't go to the distributor. If it doesn't fire, it's the coil or something between the coil and distributor. If it does fire, it something between the coil and ignition switch (bat) connection.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jtybt15

To bypass all the electrical connections, try a simple hot-wire. Run wire from the Batt(+) to the coil(+). Coil(+) is the side that doesn't go to the distributor. If it doesn't fire, it's the coil or something between the coil and distributor. If it does fire, it something between the coil and ignition switch (bat) connection.

Click to expand...


THIS!! Good, Charlie.

One can also "ohm-out" the primary and secondary winding circuits of the coil.
It's rather a shame so many B/Ed'ers tend to neglect checking George VP's extensive helpful archives:
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51465
 
Walshie - I hope you signed over the boat pink slip to your mechanically-adventuresome, official-boater-merit-badge daughter. [th]
 
Walshie, I have 3 daughters, middle one sounds like your daughter. I' going to the outer banks for a few days. If not fixed when I get back, I'll try your fix. The bypass sounds doable even for me. Thanks guys.
 
if your coils look like http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-D577-...5116&sr=1-2&keywords=chevrolet+ignition+coil, it's a GM V8 coil from the 1990's. Coil is one of the parts that does not have to be "marinized." I got this for the previous engine we had in our Sea Ray (GM 5.7L/350 SBC) and all I had to do was take the little angle bracket mine had, off and attach to the little holes you can see in the lower corners of the coil lamination in the picture.
 
That's a Delco HEI Coil. Around $20 at auto supply. Ours had to have the mounting taken off the old and added to the new.
 
JD, not much has happened! Mechanic finally came one day last week said, "yep, no spark and it's one of three things".. Was supposed to come back later in the week with the parts and get the job done. No show thus far. It'll be 4 weeks on Friday. You can imagine how pi$$ed I'm getting.
 
So swap the three things from the other engine one at a time.
 
Greg, don't get pissed, swap the coil and you'll know in 5 minutes if that's it.
BTW - What are the other two things? Ignition/fuse, Cap/rotor?

I had an overheat issue once...went on vacation for three weeks, asked mechanic to look at it while I was away. Called and reminded him too...nope, nothing. First Sunday I got back I trouble shooted and pulled the heads, sent them out. Second weekend, I re-installed. Third weekend I double checked all wires and hoses, fired her up and was good to go.

Sometimes it's just easier to do it yourself.
 
Wish I was close enough to do a house, err boat, call
 
I don't know anything about your particular engine but my 454's had a shunt resister until I upgraded to a electronic ignition with a 12 volt coil. When the resister burns out the engine will fire only when starting and die as soon as the starter is stopped.
 
Jim, The starting system has it's own ignition circuit fed from the solenoid. As soon as you let go of the key for the starter, juice for the starter shuts off and the ignition circuit is fed thru the 'ON'(run) circuit. If all electrical systems work except the engine there's a problem between the ignition switch and the ground side of the distributor. On a standard points type dist, the ground is the side of the points that the bracket screws down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top