Coil Pack to Disty |
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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Posted: October-08-2015 at 11:25am |
I remember reading several posts about dumping the stock ignition. I am going to ask a few specific questions then when time allows get to searching again.
Anyway, my 92 SN still has the OEM coil pack ignition. I am curious what the symptoms are that would have me replace them with a distributor? Background... I had a leaking carb and rebuilt that this summer, she runs like a dream. The issue is dropping the boat in after 2 weeks or more of storage. I always struggle getting her to fire. She always does. Then the rest of the day she fires up with just a touch of the key. But yesterday with a strong battery, I could not get her to fire. Carb was fine, choke was fine, starter was strong, but no fire. I gave up and took her home. At home, in the driveway, she fired right up. So will a coil pack problem be intermittent? Any other suggestions on the problem or fixing it? Thanks, Clark |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Clark,
Intermittent spark is one of the symptoms of the coil packs going. Next time it happens, check for spark to rule out a fuel problem. Here's a recent thread with aditional links you would find interesting |
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Jonny Quest
Grand Poobah Joined: August-20-2013 Location: Utah--via Texas Status: Offline Points: 2822 |
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Sounds like the ProTech system is going bad. I had similar symptoms: On my 1994, the engine would be running fine...then suddenly the engine wouldn't start. Wait 30 minutes and then it would fire-up with no problems. This cycle of start and no-start would repeat itself at unpredictable intervals. Very frustrating.
JQ |
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Current
2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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Did you confirm that you did or did not have spark when she wouldn't fire?
When we first got our boat she would start no problem if she sat for a week. When she sat for longer periods of time she would have a hard time starting. Once I poured a bit of fuel down the carb, she'd fire right up and started no problems the rest of the day. We always had spark. The issue was fuel/carb related. We wound up replacing our ProTec with a DUI as our coil packs were leaking and we figured it was a ticking time bomb. $500 and she was good to go. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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I did not check for spark and have not. I planned to do that once home, but she started. I will try that this afternoon ( if I get a no-start). My method is to pull a plug and ground the plug to the block and look for spark while I hit the key. Is that the best way to check for spark on the Pro-tec? Clark |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Clark,
Although grounding a plug when it's not in the block and looking for a spark has been used for years, it's not the best way. There are some testers that are put in line with a plug wire but the best is to clamp on the inductive pick up on a timing light on a wire. |
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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That sounds perfect. I have one of those. I could check all 8 quickly. I guess I don't need to know about all 8. I would assume that if I get a spark on 1 then the coil pack is working, correct? After studying up on this, I think I should just make the change. Maybe about $350? How is the change over? Are there directions for our engines, or are the directions generic? |
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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I went to http://performancedistributors.com/product/marine-dui-distributors/ and there are several to choose from. What engine should I have, and how do I find out for sure? Should I buy the $90 plug wires from them too? Any other items to buy? This baby sounds like a plug and play... with a check the timing in there too, right? |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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Well I used the induction timing light to check for spark. As luck would have it, there was only a short delay in starting. Last night, the starter seemed to give me maybe 3 rotations, then the engine fired up.
During those 3 rotations the timing light did not light. As soon as I saw the light, the engine fired up. Is that kinda normal? A short delay prior to firing? I guess I figured the delay was the starter getting the engine up to speed. As I mentioned, during a day on the lake, I get very little delay while on the water. Key on, hear the starter, and varoom, she is running. |
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malcolm2
Senior Member Joined: June-13-2010 Location: Nashville Status: Offline Points: 234 |
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OK it is official. Put the boat up for three days. Got it back out today, put the timing light on it and tried to start it. 3 or 4 minutes of cranking and I got no light on the timing light. I guess I'll be buying ProTec replacement this week.
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