1995 mariner CDI. no spark 1,3,5. Please help

[ebear]

Just picked the boat up last week and it idled fine on land so we took it out just to find out that it wouldn't go at all.
pulled some wires and 1,3,5 have no spark.
I followed the manual and swapped the red and blue wires on the switch boxes with no change. So I disconnected the regulator/rectifier with still no change. then I swapped the left and right coil pacs with STILL no change. While swapping the coils, I noticed a 1 inch wide bleeding gash in the plastic fill on the regulator so I have to assume that it's bad .Also when everything is hooked up and running I have 11.8 v Same as when it's off.
Ultimatly I guess what I'm asking is, concitering the fact that the regulator is discontinued, and in order to replace the reg, I have to update the stator also.The combo costs 700 dollars so is it worth doing in light of the fact that I have 90-92 psi compression and it's likely to need a rebuild in the semi near future. Or should I just part it out and get something a bit more user friendly. Thanks ahead for all your help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1995 mariner CDI. no spark 1,3,5. Please help

The VR was avail aftermarket last time I looked. Not a problem. I presume this is the V6 motor with dual VRs?

Whne you swapped the red and blue wires to the switchbox, you switched them from switchbox to switchbox right. You didn't just reverse them right?

 

[ebear]

Re: 1995 mariner CDI. no spark 1,3,5. Please help

Currently the motor has the single big vr. The replacement has the 2 smaller ones mounted on the cover plate. I switched the wires box to box with no change. Also checked the bias circut that read well within limits.I read the manual about 15 times and I still cant understand fully how the stator and VR circuts relate with Having only one bank of coils firing and not switching back and forth when I switch the wires on the switch boxes... unless the stator is burned out too. But if that were a fact, why would the motor run at all then.I would be forever greatfull if you or anybody could explain this CDI system to me in more laymens terms.
I found a stator on another site today for half the cost so I'm feeling a-lot better today, but I'm still left wondering if it's worth it to keep this motor. I didn't get into it yesterday, but there are other issues too the trim pump needs to be replaced, and the main pivot for turning L&R on the motor mount is worn severly also.
thanks again

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1995 mariner CDI. no spark 1,3,5. Please help

If spark did not return to 1,3,5 when the other stator leads were moved over, it is likely that switchbox is bad. If you switch the stator leads from the switchbox for 1,3,5 and they create spark in the switchbox for 2,4,6, the stator is likely good.

Basically, the stator provides AC power to the switchbox. The switchbox rectifies and stores the power in a capacitor. The trigger is shared between switchboxes for cylinder pairs 1,4 2,5 and 3.6. When the trigger sends a voltage to the switchbox, an Silicon Controlled Rectifer "dumps" the stored power into the correct ign coil. The bias circuit causes the trigger to switch box, after each plug fires.

The stator also provides power to the VR. It is a different power coil on a shared iron core.

 

[ebear]

Re: 1995 mariner CDI. no spark 1,3,5. Please help

Thank you for explaining that.And for taking the time for me. So I guess I'm replacing 3 parts. Boy, they got me on this one.The VR is dead, the stator needs to be upgraded with the VR. and the switch box is more than likley burned too.