AQ 130 Won't Start

[Hermyboy3000]

I just replaced my coil due to weak spark. I tried starting her and it seems like my starter might be going bad but I'm not sure. I have my car jumping my boat just to make absolutely sure I have plenty of volts. My starter seems to struggle turning the motor over. I'll crank it for about 10 seconds and usually it will quit trying to crank.

When cranking it sounds pretty weak. What do you guys think? Am I diagnosing this right, or could it be something else?

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I just replaced my coil due to weak spark.

How do you know it was the coil, and not corroded points. The points problem is very common, not a weak coil.

As far as your starting goes.
Are the cables tight and clean and in good shape. (including the ends on the cables)? I have seen cable ends held on with just a few strands of the cable.
It could also be a bad starter. It is getting old ya know.

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I removed the points a couple weeks ago and switched to electronic ignition. The starter was replaced 2 years ago. Should I pull it and have it tested?

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I removed the points a couple weeks ago and switched to electronic ignition.

Did it run ok before you changed to the electronic ign. If not, changing from points to elecronic makes the process even harder to find.

As far as your starter. If you have been using the starter a LOT because it's hard to start, yea, it could be bad again.

 

[Robj]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

Did you throw out the ballast resistor when you changed to electronic? Check your instructions, I did not need the ballast resistor with mine. Low voltage to the unit may result in a weak spark.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

Robj - I have an internal ballast resistor.

DonS - My starter was dead, just replaced it.

My motor will turnover and it'll start but it just diesels, it won't go over 300-400 rpm. I turn the distributor to pickup the rpm but then it just dies. I've checked and rechecked TDC, positioned cables accordingly to rotor position. Now I'm stumped.

What should I check next?

Two other questions, I had a cable that was connected to the old condenser, I moved that cable to the negative pole on my coil. Was that the right thing to do? If that wasn't right where should that cable go?

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

Alright, so here's the deal. Only plug 1 is firing all others are dead. What would make that happen?

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

One more time.
Did it run OK before your changed it over to the electronic ignition?

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

Yes it ran before EI it just started rough, probably due to the failing starter.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

Did you install it properly? Did you read and follow the instructions? Don't answer to me, answer to yourself, you are the one with the engine that won't go.
Did you check the timing after installing it, did you check the wiring? is it to the EI wiring instructions?????????

If it worked before (with points) and now it doesn't work, you either installed it incorrectly, or the EI unit is bad. Did you contact the manufacturer of the EI unit?

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I followed the instructions for the EI install. Like I had mentioned before in another post it ran for a bit with the EI installed then my boat ran out of gas while I was trying to tweak the timing then she died.

One note, before the motor ran out of fuel my RPMs were all over the place. Not sure if this means anything.

After I refueled and checked the fuel flow it wouldn't startup again. I then checked the coil and it was putting out a weak arc, so I replaced it.

After that I couldn't get it to crank (shot starter), so I replaced the starter now it'll go but only spark 1 fires. It sounds like it hunting.

So, if the EI module is bad wouldn't it just fail completely?

I contacted Hot-Spark today, I probably won't hear from them until tomorrow. I gave them a brief synopsis of what's happening.

Thanks for your help.

 

[alaska_av8r]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I don't know anything about the hot spark system, but as Don says something is going on with that system....

just from a thinking standpoint and only one plug firing....I wonder if the plastic sleeve that slides down over the shaft of the distributor is not rotating...it should have a notch or something so it spins with the distributor shaft, on most of those things they have magnets or something in them that have to spin past the pickup unit.....

just my WAG....wild assed guess

 

[sea wolf]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I still have points in my '87 3.0. After reading threads like this, I'm glad I forgo tempation & stayed with 'em. I would go over step by step what you did & see if you can find any mistakes when u changed over. Good luck.

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I'm in communication with the EI vendor and they suspect it's one of my other components for example rotor, distributor cap, cables, or coil. They told me that if one plug is firing then the module isn't broken.

Here's what I have - new coil, new rotor, new spark plugs, 2yr old cables, old distributor cap.

How can I test my cables? Can I use an automotive distributor cap?

Thanks!

 

[sea wolf]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

You can go to any NAPA store for a cap, or order from iboats. You should have replaced it anyway when you did the changeover. The cables should be good if they're only 2 yrs. old. But, I would check for cracks, or dry rot. By the way, with all the work you did, how come u didn't put a new cap on? A hairline crack {that u can't see} will cause all kinds of problems.

 

[Hermyboy3000]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

I couldn't get my hands on a new "marine" cap locally. I can get automotive ones out the wazoo, that's why I want to know if I can use an automotive cap.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

One way to check the cap is to pull it & crank the engine over when it's dark out. If you see any arcing across the terminals, it's shot. And stop starting new threads on the same issue.

 

[Robj]

Re: AQ 130 Won't Start

In your previous post you mentioned about a condensor. Throw it away, you do not need one with the EI. Also did you buy the right coil for the EI? You do not need a ballast resistor, throw it out, the EI uses full battery voltage. Check to make sure the resistance of the coil is correct, if it has a built in ballast resistor, it may be the wrong coil. Also check the firing order of your spark plug leads to make sure that you installed then in the correct order.

I have an Pertronix EI system on my Volvo and it works great. Glad I threw out the points, ballast resistor and all that stuff.

Have a great day,

Rob.