4.3L Volvo penta gxi no power to coil

[Trav2015]

I was boating last summer and cruising down the lake when my engine suddenly stopped, smoke was coming out from under sundeck. I have lost spark and checked fuses and relays as well as I even replaced coil. But I have noticed now that I don't have 12v or any voltage at all going to the coil with the key on. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated! Is it possible I'm missing a hidden fuse??

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,....... What Does come on with the key, Anything,..?? Gauges,..??

Is there Power at the keyswitch,..??

Is there Power at the battery,..??

Is there Power at the starter,..??

 

[Trav2015]

The gauges all light up, engine turns over,yes there is power at battery,key switch and the starter. Ha I gotta say it's got me kinda stumped without a schematic. I have power at the alternator as well

 

[Trav2015]

I have determined there was no spark by pulling a spark plug out and checking for spark, the reason I changed the coil was because it looked like it was what was hot cause it had the white powder look from heat

 

[Trav2015]

I'm not sure if this helps but the boat is a 2008 reinell with the 4.6l gxi fuel injected 225hp.

 

[Trav2015]

if i could get any help at all it would be greatly appreciated, thank you

 

[bruceb58]

Since you don't get 12V at the coil, you have to start back tracking back to the key switch. You also need to make sure that you man overboard switch is ok. That will also cause this issue.

Out of curiosity, why was there smoke coming out? You overheat?

 

[Trav2015]

I have checked the man overboard switch, it seems to be good, I think I have narrowed it down to my relay, I'm not getting a ground so that the relay can engage to allow power to the coil, is it possible I have a bad ecm?? I'm starting to thing that the relay uses the ecm to ground itself.
There was smoke Coming from the coil that was hot, I have since replaced the coil, thanks for your input I will try anything!

 

[cte069]

Did you have internal engine failure? aka no oil pressure? Just my personal experience, the motor has fail protection no oil pressure= no fuel pump and NO SPARK.
I found this out rebuilding my volvo 4.3 gl. New motor no oil pressure. What i had to do was jump the fuel pump directly from the battery. I also had to jump one side of the coil off from the battery.. Before i jump the coil with hot wire, motor would try to crank, It would also run as long as i kept the starter engaged and the key turned. As soon as i let off the key motor would die. Jump one side of the coil fixed that. Once i got the motor running@ idle aka oil pressure i was able to disconnect all my jumper wires and didnt need them anymore for cranking.. This was what i had to do to get mine up and going. Of coarse i learned all this after on my second starter, i burnt the first one up cranking the crap out of it... Hope this helps. Sometimes the major pain in the butts are something we often over look.
Just a after thought- it could be the root of all evils- bad oil pressure sensor/ground?

 

[bruceb58]

During start, there should always be spark and fuel regardless of the oil pressure. The start signal bypasses the oil pressure to turn on the fuel pump. Spark will always be there no matter what.

 

[cte069]

Not the case with mine. Just my experience. My neighbors best friend is a certified Mercury mechanic. Had my neighbor over helping me, he is also a car mechanic, he called his buddy the boat mechanic. Cause we couldnt figure it out. That is what his buddy told us to do. All I know is i didnt have a working fuel pump. I also know i only had spark to coil when key was engaged to crank it.. Did what the the mercury mechanic told me to do over the phone which was jump everything until i had the motor running with oil pressure and it worked.
Bruceb58 Yes during the start I had spark. but once i let the key rotate back to on where the engine would maintain itself running i would loose spark.... Thus why my engine would run as long as i kept the key engaged to turn the starter... once i jumped it it eliminated that. Once it ran i was able to eliminate all the jumpers.. Now everything works as it should.
That's just how my situation played out..

 

[bruceb58]

Bruceb58 Yes during the start I had spark. but once i let the key rotate back to on where the engine would maintain itself running i would loose spark.... Thus why my engine would run as long as i kept the key engaged to turn the starter... once i jumped it it eliminated that. Once it ran i was able to eliminate all the jumpers.. Now everything works as it should.
That's just how my situation played out..

Sounds like you have a wiring problem that still exists if that is the case. I notice from your previous posts that you have a GL which is substantially different than the OP's configuration.

On yours, the fuel pump relays are activated by either a signal from the alternator showing the engine is running or the start circuit. Both of these go through their own diodes. Sounds like the start side on yours is not working. The only reason you can now start is that your carb float bowl is full. The OP's fuel pump relay gets energized only from the ECU.

BTW. This is not like a Mercruiser that uses oil pressure. Volvo does not use oil pressure to keep the fuel pumps on.

 

[Trav2015]

My fuel pump runs when my key is turned on and I even went as far as putting 12 volts to my coil! However I'm still not getting any spark out of my new coil

 

[Trav2015]

My 4.3l gxi just cranks and cranks with no spark! Lol

 

[tednv]

sounds like a bad wire from fuse panel through harness to the coil. look up manual for your engine, get the wire color from wiring diagram and check for short and continuity from fuse panel back to the coil. also make sure the connection to the safety lanyard/control box is good, i'm pretty sure setting that in the off position will also kill ignition coil power

 

[Trav2015]

Do u know where I could get my hands on a manual or even a schematic of that circuit by chance? I really appreciate everyones help!!! Thanks

 

[cte069]

Thxs Bruceb58 for giving me more crap to investigate! Just kidding thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it and pm u with some findings.

 

[bruceb58]

Thxs Bruceb58 for giving me more crap to investigate! Just kidding thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it and pm u with some findings.

No problem. I can help you.

 

[bruceb58]

Do u know where I could get my hands on a manual or even a schematic of that circuit by chance? I really appreciate everyones help!!! Thanks

I don't know of any source other than buying the manual at the dealer. 2001 is the last one that is readily available online. Not sure how much changed between 2001 and 2006.

 

[alldodge]

I was boating last summer and cruising down the lake when my engine suddenly stopped, smoke was coming out from under sundeck. I have lost spark and checked fuses and relays as well as I even replaced coil. But I have noticed now that I don't have 12v or any voltage at all going to the coil with the key on. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated! Is it possible I'm missing a hidden fuse??

What are you using to measure voltage and at what point.

Here is the wiring diagram of a Volvo, it may help