Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

[geiger1374]

my boat will run forever at idle, but when i get on it it last about 5 mins. then if i throttle back it just dies and i can't restart. when this happen i check for spark and i don't have it. tried changing coils, thats not it but i didnotice the coils are getting really hot. i can only hold on to the coils for about 5 sec, its so hot.( is this right?) ive also changed the resistor going to the coil. i have a 95' glastron with a 898 305 chevy engine. last year a new mallory yh marine electronic distributor was installed on it. and i think this might be the problem. a buddy tells me there is a switch of some sort that runs from my throttle, that will kill the the boat like this. usaully when you throttle back he says. (any advice here)

also in the past it has died like this every time and i'm unable to restart and have to get towed in. then the next time i try to start it, it will start right up.
but yest erdai i was looking over the distributor, i tried to start it and i wouldn't fire at all.

so i'm thinking either the ignition module in the brand new distributor is already bad or this switch my buddy's talking about has went bad. (what do you think?)

also while inspecting the inside of the distributor cap i noticed the metal pickups have a slight bit of corrosion on them, same with the tip of the rotor. could this be it????

thanks in advance.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

I read your other post and you received some good info - it is better to keep everything pertaining to this problem in one post - that way people see the history of the problem and what other suggestions have already been made.

a buddy tells me there is a switch of some sort that runs from my throttle, that will kill the the boat like this.

That sounds like he is talking about the shift interrupt switch. That enables you to get out of gear and into neutral. It is only a momentary cutting of the engine, enough to make it "stumble". If it is engaged, then yes, it would keep your engine from starting... but it doesn't sound like that is your problem.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

Agreed. This is far fetched, but check your neutral safety switch. Bypass it temporarily to see if ya got spark.

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

i do have a hard time getting it to neutral while its running. it will shift out , but not back. it just keeps going from reverse to forward and back.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

With the engine running, engage the interrupt switch manually. See if the engine dies or not. It should. If it doesn't, then either the switch is bad or it has been bypassed. The switch is needed in order to get out of gear. Sometimes people will bypass it or "adjust" it because the engine is dying when they try shifting gears.

 

[nailem]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

the switch is back on the motor where the shift cable are. next time it dies take a meter and place it on the screws were the wires from the switch go (just follow the wires, very shot you will see the screws they attach to) and if it is closed (continuity) then thats why you are not getting spark. your cables might need adjusted or replaced. i am going through the same cable adjustment right now. i think i have it but might need some fine tuning.

also up at you remote lever there is a small micro switch that kills the ignition. i know very little about this but mine was loose and caused the boat to stall. if i wiggled the handle it would start. three little screws on the micro switch were loose. tightened and all is good.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

also up at you remote lever there is a small micro switch that kills the ignition. i know very little about this but mine was loose and caused the boat to stall. if i wiggled the handle it would start. three little screws on the micro switch were loose. tightened and all is good.

That switch is the neutral start switch and only disables the starter from working...not the ignition.

 

[nailem]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

thanks bruceb58, i did know that. i was/am having trouble with my shift adjustment and shift interrupt switch so the stalling was probably from the shift interrupt switch and the wiggle to restart was from the neutral switch. thanks

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

just follow the wires, very shot you will see the screws they attach to) and if it is closed (continuity) then thats why you are not getting spark.

so your saying that i should not have continuity?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

The switch simply grounds out the ignition when activated. if you have a voltmeter / ohm meter go ahead and check that the switch works.... but the quickest and easiest way is to activate the switch by hand while the engine is running - it should immediately kill the engine. If it does, then your switch works.

If the engine doesn't start at all, then disconnect the switch completely and try to start the engine.

 

[nailem]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

so yes normally open
closed just the motor down

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

ok i'll check that tonight or tomm.

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

does anyone think this sound like a ignition module inside the distributor going bad. also should there be a gasket in-between the distributor and the cap.

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

With the engine running, engage the interrupt switch manually. See if the engine dies or not. It should. If it doesn't, then either the switch is bad or it has been bypassed. The switch is needed in order to get out of gear. Sometimes people will bypass it or "adjust" it because the engine is dying when they try shifting gears.

would this make a difference in the water or out. because i never stall out wheni'm on the ear muffs nor do i have any shifting problems. but when i'm in the water i have both.

i also just changed the impeller and to do so i removed the outdrive. could i have done something wrong while re-installing the outdrive?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

Yes it does make a difference if you are in the water or not. Since there is a load on the prop when you are in the water there is more force applied to the shift cable and that is why the interrrupt switch is activated. More than likely, the interrupt switch never gets operated when you are out of the water.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

does anyone think this sound like a ignition module inside the distributor going bad. also should there be a gasket in-between the distributor and the cap.

I just reread your original post. Get the Mallory out of there. The triggers on those (or most high perf electronics) are notorious for burning out. I've got at least three complete Mallory SBC distributors in the shop you can have. When you add in long life, GM stock distributors cannot be beat. Put a universal marine HEI in there and be done with it.

 

[geiger1374]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

I just reread your original post. Get the Mallory out of there. The triggers on those (or most high perf electronics) are notorious for burning out. I've got at least three complete Mallory SBC distributors in the shop you can have. When you add in long life, GM stock distributors cannot be beat. Put a universal marine HEI in there and be done with it.

what hei do you suggest?

you say you have a shop. do you have any hei's and whats the price on them?

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

Not a commercial shop...just my "man-cave". What motor do you have?

 

[nailem]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

sounds like it is the shift interupt swich. i had the same exact problem, work ok on land but once in the water it would die. all is good now. print out the cable adjustment and read it about 10 times then take it to the boat with you and look at what they are talking about and read 5 more times. it really isnt hard just make sure you do it step by step and dont skip steps. i then backed my boat into the water and left it strapped to the trailer lower you drive and you can test it out and make any adjustments you need. hopefully you do not need a new cable.

i think i read Don S said you can take the prop off and test it on muffs also. have someone hold the shaft with some heavy leather gloves to give it some resistance.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone heard of a shift assist module? may be my spark issue.

It is more likely the cable that is causing the problems with the shift interrupt switch. When the cable starts to fail it requires more force and binds more hence holding the switch in the interrupt position when it isn't supposed to.