1990 Mercruiser 3.0 DDIS no start

Polejcky

Recruit
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
4
I have a 1990 Galaxy 190 Cuddy with a 3.0 4 cyclinder that will not start. It cranks over, but there is no spark. I have a see thru filter so i see fuel in the lines outside the carb. I have sprayed starter fluid down the throat just to see, but with no success. I have tried to search the forums before posting, and found the DDIS troubleshooting guide which is wonderful!

I have included the readings below, but will recap. I have 12.2 volts at the battery, 11.67 going in to the AMP and 11.45 going into the coil from the amp, which all seems to be within the acceptable parameters of 1/2 a volt.

I checked the resistance on the motion sensor, and have 170 ohms. when I crank the engine and monitor the resistance, I see it fluctuate between 0 and 170, which I believe is normal operation as it would be an off/on needed for each cylinder.

when I measured the coil from connector "a" to ground, I had an "open" which kind of threw me, since the guide said min of 10 megaohms, but if I think of it as low resistance short vs high resistance short, then I want a minimum of 10megaohms and a maximum of the highest resistance or even "open", correct? (basically, i dont want this connector pin grounded???)

If all this testing is correct and my numbers are within range, then now I am stumped, and not sure where to go from here.

I found a youtube video testing (car) coil packs, and it showed that using a test light, on the leads coming into the coil there is 1 wire that is a constant 12vdc, and one of the wires should be "switching". I decided to try this test and had my daughter crank the motor while I checked with a test light on each pin coming in to the coil. The constant 12v stayed lit the whole time, but I had NO light on either of the other 2 wires. Since I saw the resistance fluctuating on the output of the motion sensor, does this mean I have a bad amplifier? or is there something else I am missing, or need to check?

Just to add... I do not have a kill switch on this boat. If its in Neutral it will crank, if I shift into any other gear, it doesnt crank at all.

If it proves to be the amplifier, I will consider consider converting to regular distributor ignition, but wanted to exhaust everything else first.

is there a vehicle equivalent distributor that will work in these GM 4cyl motors, like a 1967 Chevy II or something like that? I know they wouldn't be USCG approved, but they would be a lot cheaper than the marine conversion kits.

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thanks in advance!

ML

Engine info:
Casting No= 2770087
Engine year= 137-89
Serial No:There are no serial number tags, but the following number is listed on the fire arrestor- 85784.

Amplifier:
Battery Voltage= 12.2 VDC
From Amplifier to Coil= 11.45 VDC
Engine harness into Amplifier= 11.67 VDC

Ignition Coil:
Resistance A-B= 2.3
Resistance A-C= 2.3 Resistance 1-4= 13.67
Resistance 2-3= 13.68
Resistance a to grnd= open

Motion Sensor:
Resistance= 170

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Last edited:

alldodge

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Staff member
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Mar 8, 2009
Messages
43,326
then I want a minimum of 10megaohms and a maximum of the highest resistance or even "open", correct? (basically, i dont want this connector pin grounded???)

Correct

If your meter is measuring correct then it should work. Have you tried disconnecting the shift interrupter?

Also what is the measurement from (a) to ground, pic lower right and it should be open with interrupter connected

IMO the best replacement is the Delco EST distributor

Slide3.JPG
 

Polejcky

Recruit
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
4
Also just to add...
I have tried checking the high towers on the coil for spark using plugs against the engine block and I get nothing off of each one. That was my first test.
 

Polejcky

Recruit
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
4
AllDodge- Thanks for validating my thoughts on the coil ground. I also did check the resistance from "a" to ground and it was "open" as well. I forgot to include that above.
I did not disconnect the "shift interruptor switch". I guess I though if it was that switch then it wouldnt crank at all. I can definitely disco it though, and see. Its only 2 screws, and it wont hurt...
 

alldodge

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Staff member
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Messages
43,326
You would just pull one of the wires, but since the circuit is open, its probably fine.

May just nee\d a better meter and probably find that something is bad, and would have to replace the system anyway. I'm leaning to just replace it because everything checks out and still no spark. They were not very good systems, figure that's why they were not used very long
 

Polejcky

Recruit
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
4
AllDodge,
I just got back in from removing both and re-trying it, but still it doesn't start. I almost purchased a replacement coil, just to see, but didn't want to shotgun troubleshoot it. Besides all the parts are really expensive if you can even find them. Besides, now I am leaning towards the amplifier, since I am not really seeing anything on those other two leads coming from the amplifier to the coil, although honestly, I am not 100% sure as to what I should see on them. It does make sense though that something(voltage or resistance) should be cycling, just like in the motion sensor. I will go back through everything else one more time hopefully tomorrow just to double check. Measure twice and buy once...
Thanks again for your input!
 
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