Bad ignition coil

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Bad ignition coil

Confusion exists somewhat....

Model number E150TXCOS has two (2) powerpacks, one each attached to the outside lower portions of the powerhead not far from the cylinder heads. Neither powerpack resembles the powerpack shown via your hyperlink.

Could that engine possibly have had a powerhead from a 2.6 litre Sea Drive model switched to it? If your powerhead has but one powerpack, that would explain it.

This lost of spark..... is it that the engine doesn't fire on #5 at all when the engine is running and has no spark at all on #5 when running?

Spark test.... With the spark plugs removed, the spark that you do have should jump a 7/16" gap with a strong blue lightning like flame... a real SNAP! Does it? Note that the gap is important.

(Spark Tester - Home Made)
(J. Reeves)

A spark tester can be made with a piece of 1x4 or 1x6, drive a few finishing nails through it, then bend the pointed ends at a right angle. You can then adjust the gap by simply twisting the nail(s). Solder a spark plug wire to one which you can connect to the spark plug boots, and a ground wire of some kind to the other to connect to the powerhead somewhere. Use small alligator clips on the other end of the wires to connect to ground and to the spark plug connector that exists inside of the rubber plug boot.

Using the above, one could easily build a spark tester whereas they could connect 2, 4, 6, or 8 cylinders all at one time. The ground nail being straight up, the others being bent, aimed at the ground nail. A typical 4 cylinder tester follows:


..........X1..........X2

.................X..(grd)

..........X3..........X4

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

I did use a spark tester. I bought one from auto zone for like 7 bucks. Anyway, I tested all of the coils and found my cylinder #5 does NOT have a spark. I went ahead and replaced the coil with a new one, re ran the spark test and had same results.

Ill take more pictures in a bit to help.

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

Heres a video...

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=53f2a&s=7

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Bad ignition coil

OK, your options are to heed the advice you get here on the forum or venture out on your own, the advice said to swap it out with another one from the motor itself, that would be a known WORKING coil.

By replacing it with another one even though it is new could be adding more snakes to the pile, many of us on the forum have purchased brand new coils only to find out that the new coil was bad out of the box.

The coils will have a wire that goes into a rubber plug, usually the 3 wires from one side of the motor go into one plug and that plug will be plugged into your power pack, once you have idfentified your power pack then find the one for the other bank of cylinders and swap the power packs from one side to the other.

If your problem persists then you need to go further into checking stator/timer base.

It's also worth swapping plug wires even if they are new, because again, new wires can be bad when new.

 

[AlTn]

Re: Bad ignition coil

Crowley Marine has diagrams for Sea Drive motors..you might be able to identify what you have from those...before Joe mentioned Sea Drive, I'd never heard of it, but after reading more about it, seems like a good concept, maybe lacking somewhat in execution....all that said....if your powerpack to coil wires originate under or from that box, nothing to lose by examining them..maybe the wire to no.5 is just broken or worn bare

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Bad ignition coil

If the new coil and a switched coil doesn't spark, before replacing any component, pull the rubber plug connectors apart and inspect them thoroughly. The pins and sockets contained within them have been known to get pushed backwards somewhat, resulting in a poor faulty connection between the pin and socket which leads to weak, erratic, or no spark/ignition on the associated coil.

Also the wires attached to those pins/sockets have been known to break away from the pins/sockets but would remain in the rubber plug giving the illusion that they were still connected when they are not. Obviously this results in no spark to the associated coil.

If all is well in the pin/socket/rubber plug area....... Find out what the ohm reading is supposed to be on the timing base timing sensors and test them for the proper reading.

If all of the above areas are as they should be, I would think that you could safely assume that the powerpack is faulty.

That engine does only have one (1) powerpack doesn't it?

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

Thank you for the advice, I really do. I have decided to get a mechanic to come out, and will be there Monday...$90 dollars an hour is a tough one to swallow. But, I think its time to get someone out and just take a look at it. Ive also started searching for a new motor, but its tough to decide if I want to dish out the money for a new motor or finance a new one.

 

[AlTn]

Re: Bad ignition coil

If you would...post back with the fix....you fellas that go offshore have a real decision to make concerning reliability...here in East Tn...we can get to a bank or shore with a paddle..25 miles out in the Gulf?...kinda scary...

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

Well, I had the mechanic to come out and he said that I do need a new powerpack and that it will cost 289 dollars.....and there is only 1 powerpack, and he said thats why they are so expensive.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Bad ignition coil

There's a number on that powerpack..... what is it?

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

There's a number on that powerpack..... what is it?

im not sure, to be honest im not sure where the powerpack is still....but I know 289 is really high.

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

okay looking at tsome of the OE# on a website, I think the box is the powerpack...ill get the #'s tomorrow.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Bad ignition coil

All of the coils would be connected to the powerpack via orange wires.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Bad ignition coil

2 other circuits involved in your getting spark...1) charge coils, 2) trigger coils. Both of these are located under the flywheel.
This is why there is a specific sequence for testing. Or you can start replacing $400 parts that don't need it.

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

2 other circuits involved in your getting spark...1) charge coils, 2) trigger coils. Both of these are located under the flywheel.
This is why there is a specific sequence for testing. Or you can start replacing $400 parts that don't need it.

Which is why I had the mechanic come out yesterday. There are so many variables, I rather I had someone who knew what exactly they were doing.

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

There's a number on that powerpack..... what is it?

583816........found one online for 221, so I take it they are just flat out expensive. 2 powerpacks in one essentially.

 

[AlTn]

Re: Bad ignition coil

0583816 supercedes to 0584044....$145...at boats.net

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

he told me it would be 289 which included installation. Knowing he made a nice profit on me, ill be taking outboard motor classes ;-)

 

[AlTn]

Re: Bad ignition coil

several professors on here...the "homework" can get tedious, but it's a great way for the impatient to acquire patience

 

[SirEnvy]

Re: Bad ignition coil

I posted a video and took a picture of the powerpack and no one could tell me thats a powerpack. I got the mechanic to come out to only confirm that yes indeed its the powerpack. Calling anyone impatient is a crime in here. Missing great fishing, thats a crime!

I have contacted the mechanic and told him I could get a powerpack for 145, and he kind of was caught off guard, like he was surprised that someone would do research on a part. Then he called me a Novice haha, so i fired back saying im the one writing the check. So hes confirming my part # tonight when he gets back to his office.