no spark

[baylinerlover]

i have a 1988 bayliner with 3.0 mercruiser I have no spark I been messing with it and I found that when I hook my test light to the coil neg or pos posts to a ground there is no power with key on off or turning over but if I hook the test light to the positive on battery and to the coil I have power all the time is this normal but yet my boat wont start.

 

[alldodge]

Howdy

When you connect the test light from the positive terminal to the coil, the test light becomes a jumper. Your not getting full 12V but this is all your doing. You need a voltmeter not a test light to find out what is happening. Can get a cheap one from wally world or harbor freight.

Take your test light to the key switch and see if you have power on the Red/Purple wire. If there is no power there look for an inline fuse holder, there should be a 20 amp fuse inside.

If you have power on the Red/Purple turn the key to ON and see if you have power on the Purple wire

 

[baylinerlover]

ok i'll get one later today and about the key switch theres power to the red wire all the time the purple wire has power when I turn key to on the yellow and red wire has power when I turn over engine.

 

[alldodge]

Now check for 12V at the purple wires on the gauges, if its there it should be on the positive side of the coil. If its not at the coil disconnect the main engine plug and check pins for corrision

 

[baylinerlover]

I went out and got a multimeter and I'll go check that and get back with yall thanks for the help so far I really appreciate it.

 

[baylinerlover]

I went out and the purple wire at the key had 12v gauges and all work but goin into the big plug at the engine had nothing I checked fuses under dash all seemed good but i'll check again

 

[alldodge]

Being a 1988 I don't think you would have a kill switch, but maybe. Look for one of them

Otherwise there shouldn't be another fuse, you might just have a cut/broken wire or bad pin in the engine connector

 

[baylinerlover]

I haven't seen one just the clip thing on the dash and earlier the coil was really hot said theres was no power the volt meter wasn't resistering any volts but I'll look around more for one.

 

[alldodge]

Only way for the coil to get hot is with power going to it. If you coil shorts out a test light may not light up. A voltmeter will show something if it has a good ground

 

[baylinerlover]

the lanyard on the dash only has 12v power goin to one side shouldn't it go through to both sides I straighted wired with a 10 amp fuse now I have power to the coil with key on theres 4v on pos side and jumps around from from 0.1 to 0.2 on neg side when I turn it over it stays the same.

 

[alldodge]

The lanyard is you kill switch and appears you have one. The lanyard is connected to the drivers wrest so if they fall overboard the motor stops.

Do you know what your serial number is, or if not that what distributer system do you have?

 

[baylinerlover]

it has points system I know that I'm sure the serial number

 

[alldodge]

Points are good enough.
With 4V on the Pos side probably means the points are closed. As the motor cranks they open and close which causes the coil to fire.

Do you have any spark now?

 

[baylinerlover]

I tried starting it but no luck I pulled the coil wire off and put it next to the engine with a screw driver in it and I didn't see no spark

 

[alldodge]

Remove the distributer cap and bump the starter until the points are open.

Turn key OFF and remove the wires off the Neg side of the coil. Hold the coil lead close to a ground, turn the key ON, and use a jumper wire to go from the Neg side of the coil terminal to ground. Every time the wire is removed from ground and then re-touched there should be a spark.

If you get a spark, try cranking the motor and see if the points open and close as it cranks. If points do open and close then you should replace the points and condenser. More then likely the condenser is bad.

If you can crank the motor and the points do not open and close then they need to be adjusted

 

[baylinerlover]

the blue wire goin to the neg side of coil to the points had rubbed the wire off I fixed that now I have 4v closed and round 11v opened the points spark when the key is on if I open and close them with a screw diver but still no fire from coil to plugs.

 

[alldodge]

Edit: take that back you need the condenser.

I would replace the points and condenser and if you still don't have spark then you need a coil

 

[baylinerlover]

i'll see bout getting all that and how it goes thanks for all the help today.

 

[baylinerlover]

just wanting to update ya on my 88 bayliner with no spark sorry took so long but it ended up being the coil got points and condenser anyway hooked it up no spark put a coil on it fired right up thanks for all the help I really do appreciate it.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard, 'n Thank You for the update,......

Yer problem was Unusual in that the coil is rarely the problem, yet is always changed because it's so "Easy, 'n Cheap",....

Millions of perfectly good coils have been thrown away, when something else was the Problem,....