Why would 2 new coils go bad in 1 hour!!!!????!!!!

[fmt2bx]

I just changed the 4 coils with the new updated version, . After 1 hr on the water I lost #3 coil followed by #2 coil.

What would fry a coil so quickly? or is bad luck?

Thank you.

PS:
also new stator, new trigger and new pacs. All CDI products.

 

[jerryjerry05]

You sure they're bad?(had to ask)
Maybe??That's a question for CDI.

 

[gm280]

I am also curious to see how you know they are "fried"? Do you have a meter, and if so do you know how to use one? I ask because I would like you to read the "Bad" coils' primary and secondary windings against a new one that isn't deemed bad. I'd like to know what has gone wrong. If you lack spark from those two coils, maybe it is what feeds the coils or a bad connection instead of bad coils... :noidea:

 

[fmt2bx]

I am also curious to see how you know they are "fried"? Do you have a meter, and if so do you know how to use one? I ask because I would like you to read the "Bad" coils' primary and secondary windings against a new one that isn't deemed bad. I'd like to know what has gone wrong. If you lack spark from those two coils, maybe it is what feeds the coils or a bad connection instead of bad coils... :noidea:

Thanks. I agree it seems so improbable!( I even removed the flywheel to inspect the stator and trigger)

I took the signal of #4 (good spark), the wire plug from #4, the spark plug of #4 and the white wire pack connector from #4. Connected the coil of #3 and #2 and had no spark.
Still wasn't convinced, just couldn't believe that 2 new coils would be faulty. So I took 2 older coils I had and replaced them keeping all other wires and plugs from #3 and #2. Got spark on 2 and 3.

Primary and secondary test showing respectively, 0.3 and 285. The secondary value is higher than the manual specifies (120 to 160) but is consistent with the value of the other working new coils not sure if that's normal tho. I noticed that the new CDI stator resistance specification is different from the OEM. It's possible that the new coils are the same way. I'll have to ask CDI on Monday.

I didn't do the Dynamic test on coil as specified in manual, don't have the equipment.

I am concerned that I have a condition in the electrical system generating premature coil failure.

 

[Frank Acampora]

The usual failure mode with electrics and electronics is failure during the first couple of hours. Your failure IS possible but improbable. Your next step is to contact CDI in a non-confrontational manner and investigate.

 

[fmt2bx]

The usual failure mode with electrics and electronics is failure during the first couple of hours. Your failure IS possible but improbable. Your next step is to contact CDI in a non-confrontational manner and investigate.

Frank,
Thanks.
No intention to be confrontational at all.
The learning curve is pretty steep and
so much more to understand.
I'm looking forward to get tech support on the line and find out what they think.
I have replaced all the electronics with CDI product so they might want me to test a few more things.
All my friends ( with boat) warned me about the joy of ownership!!! Lol
Cheers

 

[60sboater]

I bought new charge coils from CDI for a Mercury 9.8 and they had different resistance from OEM but the engine runs now. Good luck to you.

 

[fmt2bx]

Lost the 3rd new coil today.
Thats 3 out of 4!
Can't be bad luck.
I'll call CDI in the morning. Hopefully they can give me some insight.
Anyone using these new coils?
You know what the resistance should be?

 

[fmt2bx]

Update:

Talked to CDI this am. Tech support was outstanding. They walk me through all the troubleshooting steps.
From that they determined that it was faulty coils, issued RMA and we are going from there.

I re-installed the older original coils, got sparks on all 4 and gonna go for test today. Curious to see how it's going to turn out.

 

[gm280]

Update:

Talked to CDI this am. Tech support was outstanding. They walk me through all the troubleshooting steps.
From that they determined that it was faulty coils, issued RMA and we are going from there.

I re-installed the older original coils, got sparks on all 4 and gonna go for test today. Curious to see how it's going to turn out.

WOW fmt2bx, I would have never ever thought that three NEW coils could go bad that quickly. There has to be some factory fault on their part. That defies all logic otherwise. However, glad you did contact the CDI folks and are getting it straighten out... And thanks for the coming back here and explain to everyone what happened. Thanks you and have a great boating trip too... :thumb:

 

[fmt2bx]

WOW fmt2bx, I would have never ever thought that three NEW coils could go bad that quickly. There has to be some factory fault on their part. That defies all logic otherwise. However, glad you did contact the CDI folks and are getting it straighten out... And thanks for the coming back here and explain to everyone what happened. Thanks you and have a great boating trip too... :thumb:

Thanks GM280.

Spent the all day on the lake having fun, no issues, all good!

 

[Nordin]

I have been intouched with a similar issue. This was about 3-4 years ago. A guy called me about his 125 Hp Force 1989. He had ignition problems and the engine was equiped with CDI replace ignition coils such as the one in the pic in first thread and factory made coils. The CDI coils showed the right resistance.

We went thru the troubleshooting of the hole system and it ended up with that he changed the CDI ign.coils to used factory made Prestolite ign.coils and the engine start to run as it should.

 

[fmt2bx]

I have been intouched with a similar issue. This was about 3-4 years ago. A guy called me about his 125 Hp Force 1989. He had ignition problems and the engine was equiped with CDI replace ignition coils such as the one in the pic in first thread and factory made coils. The CDI coils showed the right resistance.

We went thru the troubleshooting of the hole system and it ended up with that he changed the CDI ign.coils to used factory made Prestolite ign.coils and the engine start to run as it should.

I am baffled by this whole thing. I know that the coils failed , I can understand that CDI could have had some defective manufacturing issues but in my case I had coils made in Oct 2014 and June 2015. It seems like too much of a gap.
The good news is that CDI are behind their product and easy to work with. Pretty rare these days.
I'll be curious to hear from ppl about their experience with these new coils. So thanks Nordin for your post.