89 searay 180br -no spark

[boater bob]

hey guys, new to the forum, but ive been reading a lot of threads on the "no start" problem.

seemed to be properly winterized last year. we took it out. it ran fine. i bought it. now, 3weeks later, no dice. 4.3L/alpha 1/thunderbolt EI.

its getting gas, but no spark. i am getting 12v at the coil in the "on" position.
i dont think i have a kill switch, but shifter/neutral switch seems to be working.

i tried to pull the grey tach wire from the coil (from another thread) but no dice. everybody says its probably a simple electrical fix. any help!

exasperated - boater bob

 

[Don S]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

If you have power to the coil, it's not the kill switch.

BTW, Welcome to iboats.

 

[boater bob]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

thanks don,

you seem to be the man here. BTW, this forum is incredible. i've gotten more nformation here than anywhere else.

so if i have 12v on the coil but no spark to the plug, and i'm getting gas, looks like i need to look at the EI components. the dist. sensor, the module.

i'll let you know what i find. just didnt wanna buy a bunch of parts until i knew what was wrong. just had this thing running 3weeks ago. the only thing i did was pull the alternator to repair a sagging motor mount.

thanks, boater bob

 

[Don S]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

the only thing i did was pull the alternator to repair a sagging motor mount.

Then you better be pulling the outdrive and checking the engine alignment, or your next project will be pulling the engine and replacing that $300 coupler.
After you get the drive off, look at the splines in the coupler thru the gimbal bearing. HOPEFULLY, the splines don't go up to a point. If they do, the coupler is about gone, due to the sagging mount.
That is exactly the reason the alignment needs checked at least once a year.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

Ayuh,.......

Look for any loose or mis-placed wires where you were working on it,...
Did all the Grounds get put back on,..??

And,.... Don's Right,..... Check the Splines on your Input Shaft,+ Coupler,.....
They should Not be Pointy,.... They should be 3 sided, with about 3/32" Flat on their Tops.....

 

[boater bob]

-FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

-FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

ITS RUNNING!!!

thank you, thank you, thank you guys. i worked from the diagram don posted. tests said it was the sensor in the distributor. as i'm taking it off to find a replacement, i notice a couple of loose screws. i tightened them up, put it all together and vvrrooooommm! that thing purrs like a kitten. o.k. i dont like cats, but it still purrs..

when i replaced the motor mounts, i took careful measurements, raised the motor 1/2 inch, did the fix and brought the motor back to its original height. (it was only sagging 3/4 inch in the back) so hopefully doing this IS fixing a problem.

but i will heed your advice. although i dont think i'm ready to pull a drive at this point. give me a little time.

thanks again. if theres ANYTHING i can do to help the group, i will try...... bob

 

[Don S]

Re: -FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

Re: -FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

but i will heed your advice. although i dont think i'm ready to pull a drive at this point. give me a little time.

If you are worried about pulling the drive, don't! You will have to later when you pull the engine to replace the coupler.
There isn't a measurement in the world you can do to get the alignment right, other than using the alignment bar.
You are creating a very expensive problem.

 

[Bondo]

Re: -FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

Re: -FIXED- Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

but i will heed your advice. although i dont think i'm ready to pull a drive at this point. give me a little time.

Ayuh,.... It's only 8 nuts,+ it Off.....

Don's Right,....
It'll be Cheap if you do it Now,......
If you wait til Later,.... You can add in the $300.+ for the Coupler.....

 

[boater bob]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

so, with the proper tools, i can pull the drive, insert an alignment bar, and adjust motor mounts, correct?

and replace the input shaft if it's shot.....hopefully not...

bob

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 89 searay 180br -no spark

so, with the proper tools, i can pull the drive, insert an alignment bar, and adjust motor mounts, correct?

and replace the input shaft if it's shot.....hopefully not...

bob

Yup, do it now, an alighnment bar is like $50 & a gasket set $10, you should pull the drive to lube the u joints anyway.....
If you smoke a coupler on the water, you are getting towed in.....