Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

[chefmikey]

Hello all, I need a bit of advice. I have a 1990 3.0 Mercruiser with DDIS ignition. The boat was running good, broke a fan belt, got hot and fried the coil pack. I bought a new one, installed it, but somthing is not right with the timing. I show my firing order 1-3-4-2. The coil pack is numbered 1-2-3-4. When i start it, it is common sense to say somthing is wrong with timing, backfiring through carb and I can tell somthing is not right. THis is how i have it wired. #1 cylinder to the #1 on the coil pack following counter clockwise. WHat couold be my problem here? Thanks in advance.

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

chef, Maybe this Service bulletin has what you need;<br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/90/90_15.pdf

 

[chefmikey]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Hey thanks, I checked it out, seems it was a service notice about the Est Ignition systems, talking about how they changed from DDIS Ignition. I do appreciate it though. I am not sure what my problem is, I think I am just thinking half dumb and have the spark plug wires wrong. My firing order is 1-3-4-2. The coil pack is numbered 1-2-3-4. I wire it up counter clockwise and even have tried going off the Coil pack numbers. BOth ways result is somthing horribly wrong, Running real rich, just all the typical signs of ignition timing way off. If anybody has any ideas, please fell free, Thanks in advance.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Well, if it does the same thing wired up both ways (1234 and 1342), have you checked the base timing? Maybe that's way off?

 

[chefmikey]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

No distributer... Camshaft sensor, Ignition amplifier and Coil pack. I tested the amp and it works fine, I dont think there is a way to check the camshaft sensor, But i did not mess with it. Darn thing is pissing me off, I even pulled the carb yesterday, put a new gasket kit in it and made sure the inside was looking good. It has to be timing and it must be the way I have wired it, but i dont see how. Any diagrams from the coil pack to the engine out there? Thanks in advance

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Maybe a bad new coil pack then? It happens.

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

DDIS<br />The four cylinder engine is set up in pairs, Usually #1 is paired with #4 and #2 is paired with #3. One coil to each pair.<br />Each spark plug in a cylinder pair fires at the same time. <br /><br />I'm still reading...........

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Found a diagram online!<br /> http://www.marinemechanic.com/site/page254.html

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

The spark plug wires should be direct from the coil to the plugs, 1-1 2-2 3-3 and 4-4.......<br /><br />If this has been tried then I suggest replacing the motion sensor, as you know there is no way to test it. If the coil fried then more than likely the motion sensor was damaged as well. Let me know if you need instruction for the replacement, it's a couple of long paragraphs.

 

[chefmikey]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Very Nice!! After reading that diagram it looks to me that maybe the camshaft sensor is bad, I dont even know how i could test it. The engine sounds like it is hitting on what ever cylinder it desires, and not what the sensor is telling it. what are the odds of two out of three things in the whole ignition system going bad? It could have happened, the day the coil pack got fried, I cranked it for about an hour off and on at the marina, I know this is not good when dealing with electronics, I could have damaged it. OK so who has one that there selling for a 6 pack of Olympia? Thanks to everybody that helped me out, I will post when I have narrowed the list.

 

[chefmikey]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Thanks to everybody that helped me out with this problem. The conclusion is that the inside of the cam sensor had corrosion, I cleaned it up with a dremel and the boat started right up and ran great. I do not like this DDIS ignition, Anybody have any information about a swap to electronic ignition? Or do they exsist. Thanks

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

Actually from what I've read the DDIS has some advantages too, less moving parts (distributor), more accurate on firing and timing advance and it automatically cuts off firing plugs in the event of high RPM (over rev). It's about as electronic as you can get. I would stick with it and just maintain it.

 

[chefmikey]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 Ignotion problems.

The amplifier part of the system is $600. I am sure that is the next thing to go out on me. Just my feeling anyhow. If you see me out in the middle of Lake Pend Orielle floating around flagging boaters down, I will remind you that you are the one that talked me into staying with it!......