Re: help with 96 merc outboard
I think they fire sequentially 1-2-3-4-5-6. I hope I remember that right. The ignition system is set up where cylinders are paired. 1 and 4, 2 and 5, 3 and 6. Your stator is okay because four are sparking. So that leaves the trigger or one or both switchboxes. Triggers are very reliable, but the wires out of them can break inside the insulation from vibration and constant flexing back and forth. My instinct tells me that's it, but switchbox problems are far more prevalent. Exactly what has been replaced?
One thing to try. There is a green wire leading from one of the switchboxes to the warning module for the oil alarm. It's an extra wire attached to one of the terminals on one of the switchboxes. There are green wires to each coil and one has two greens connected to it. Disconnect the long green wire that runs to a 2x2 black square box and see if spark returns. A problem with it should only knock out one cylinder, but we're talkiing Mercury ignition and it has a mind of its own.
