No Spark, feels like I’ve tried everything.

[MrHProblems]

This is going to be a relatively long one I believe.

Information:
1996 Bayliner Capri w/ 3.0LX Merc.

I stored the boat for the winter and came back this season to take it out on the lake and BAM, crank no start.

I narrowed it down to no spark, replaced the distributor, rotor, cap, etc(made sure to set the timing, it’s 8° before)
replaced the ignition coil,
bypassed the kill switch temporarily,
unplugged the shift disrupter( connected the 2 wires on the harness to each other),
Check continuity of all the plug wires,
Made my own EST-Coil wire harness because the factory one appeared to be bad,
New spark plugs,
Tach is unplugged from behind the gauge cluster,
All fuses are good.

I also tested to see if I’d get spark directly from the coil, no spark. I have 12 volts entering the coil via the purple wire that is in the same connector as the grey wire, I also have 12 volts leaving the coil through the harness to the distributor, as well as through the plug wires going from the coil to the distributor.

At this point I have no clue what else it could be.

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

did you check to make sure the return sides going back to the battery were all good?

 

[MrHProblems]

did you check to make sure the return sides going back to the battery were all good?

Not really sure what would be the most effective way of doing that? Just checking for continuity between the battery terminal and the ends of each wire going to the coil/distributor?

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

Not really sure what would be the most effective way of doing that? Just checking for continuity between the battery terminal and the ends of each wire going to the coil/distributor?

with power off yes, check continuity and resistance, the ignition wires im pretty sure will have a measurable resistance im not sure what yours would be

 

[MrHProblems]

with power off yes, check continuity and resistance, the ignition wires im pretty sure will have a measurable resistance im not sure what yours would be

Feels like everything is grounded properly as far as I can tell.

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

its strange that it was working fine last year then the first startup theres no spark. What i would think is that moisture maybe eventually rusted out a terminal so while it says you have 12v from the multimeter, the connection is no good. That or an animal got in during storage and chewed something. Maybe check for corroded terminals?

 

[MrHProblems]

corroded terminals on what? most of the ignition system at this point is brand new.

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

corroded terminals anywhere on the ignition system like grounds or positives. I had an issue on my 1995 sea ray where the battery wasnt charging i was getting good ( a little high voltage) out of it and spent so much time on the wiring system only to find out one of the connectors was holding on by one strand of the copper wire. I just couldnt see it because of the little rubber piece of the connector was covering it.

 

[MrHProblems]

So even though I have 12 volts going to everything in the system you think I should go through and check all the connections and grounds and make sure they are all good?

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

So even though I have 12 volts going to everything in the system you think I should go through and check all the connections and grounds and make sure they are all good?

just as a test you should get a long wire that can handle the amperage and connect it to the closest ground terminal to the ignition system all the way to the negative on the battery.

 

[averagemercruiserfan]

maybe somewhere on the block

 

[MrHProblems]

Will dive into this in the morning, lets hope for some better results tomorrow I guess

Thank you! Keep you eye out on here tomorrow plz!

 

[Scott06]

Will dive into this in the morning, lets hope for some better results tomorrow I guess

Thank you! Keep you eye out on here tomorrow plz!

I would get a hold of a factory manual for your engine and there should be a troubleshooting guide - probably the pick up coil (inside dist that triggers the spark) or the module is bad.

I'll look and see if I have a copy electronically tonight

 

[MrHProblems]

I would get a hold of a factory manual for your engine and there should be a troubleshooting guide - probably the pick up coil (inside dist that triggers the spark) or the module is bad.

I'll look and see if I have a copy electronically tonight

Brand new Distributor from top to bottom, and EST

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, how exactly did you check the timing, if you have no spark?

 

[MrHProblems]

Gee, how exactly did you check the timing, if you have no spark?

I haven't checked it, I just set it to 8 degrees before TDC when I put the new Distributor in.

 

[Scott06]

Brand new Distributor from top to bottom, and EST

Ok still the troubleshooting in factory manual for a 3.0 EST will tell you what isnt working, or prove you have a defective unit

 

[MrHProblems]

Ok still the troubleshooting in factory manual for a 3.0 EST will tell you what isnt working, or prove you have a defective unit

something like this?

Est Ignition System Check; Test Description - MerCruiser GM4 Service Manual [Page 47]

MerCruiser GM4 Manual Online: est ignition system check, Test Description. Pick-Up Coil Pn Bre Bre Wht Wht 5. Applying A Voltage (1.5 To 8 Volts) To Module Termi- Nal ''P'' Should Turn The Module ''On'' And The ''Tach'' Terminal Voltage Should Drop To About 7-9 Volts. This Test Will...

www.manualslib.com

 

[Scott06]

something like this?

Est Ignition System Check; Test Description - MerCruiser GM4 Service Manual [Page 47]

MerCruiser GM4 Manual Online: est ignition system check, Test Description. Pick-Up Coil Pn Bre Bre Wht Wht 5. Applying A Voltage (1.5 To 8 Volts) To Module Termi- Nal ''P'' Should Turn The Module ''On'' And The ''Tach'' Terminal Voltage Should Drop To About 7-9 Volts. This Test Will...

www.manualslib.com

exactly like that

and you are testing for spark off the coil or one of the plug wires?

 

[MrHProblems]

About to retest off the coil again, just went and got an actual spark tester.