no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

[racer96]

1987 bayliner capri,2.3 cobra. pulled boat out of winter storage to get ready for lake. I replaced alternator as last time we were on lake battery went dead,checked alternator and it was not charging.put new one on and started right up went and pulled wire from battery cable to see if charging and engine died after about 20 seconds and would not restart.i had no power to coil so i ran a jumper wire from battery to coil and it fired right up.I checked voltage all the way back to starter solenoid and had power but still was not getting power to coil.at this point im pulling my hair out so i replaced the starter solenoid with a extra one i had and no change,then i replaced ignition switch and now the starter engages with the key in the on position. " PLEASE HELP I JUST WANT TO GO TO LAKE"

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

welcome

you said "put new one on and started right up went and pulled wire from battery cable to see if charging" What do you mean by that?

Any chance you can get a pic of the back of the ignition switch or tell us what color wire you have connected to which post (the posts on the back of the ignition should have letters near each one)

P.s first place to check if the engine has no power to coil is the kill switchs/shifter but i fear its a little late to check that until the ignition is repaired

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????




Purple wire to acc, brown wire to ignition, red wire to battery, yellow wire in middle

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

when i put alternator on i pulled positive cable off battery to see if it would stay running on alternator.dumb i should of just looked at gauges ,it was a long day......

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

when i put alternator on i pulled positive cable off battery to see if it would stay running on alternator.dumb i should of just looked at gauges ,it was a long day......

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

The old timers may say otherwise, but it's never a good idea to pull the battery out of the loop on a running engine. The battery acts as a voltage regulator, and with out it voltage spikes have no place to go. This could really get you in trouble with a modern vehicle!

Regardless, does your ignition system have a ballast resistor, or resistor wire feeding B+ to the coil? If so, you may have let the smoke out of them.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

i can not find a color code for your ignition switch i hope someone else can assist. If not start unhooking the yellow and the brown wire one at a time then turn on the ignition switch and see if starter still turns

 

[Don S]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

View attachment 196686


Purple wire to acc, brown wire to ignition, red wire to battery, yellow wire in middle

Have no idea what the brown wire goes to, and nothing should be on the accessory terminal.
Put the red on Battery
Purple on ignition
Yellow/red strip goes on the start or crank terminal.

For now leave the brown wire off until you find what it goes to.

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

ok good news.I figured out the ignition"thank the lord" the cheap $10 ignition switch terminals can't be tightened too much or the contacts inside the switch short out against each other.Lesson learned buy a good switch!!! now on to the spark issue.i have it narrowed down to the resistance wire.i have 12 volts at coil when key is on start but as soon as i let key go back to on position all voltage dropsto zero . do i need to put a ballast resistor in or a coil with a internal resistor.if i put a ballast resistor in do i run a new wire or use the existing resistance wire and splice into it ?? if i change to a coil with a internal resistor how would i wire it??? THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS VERY APPRECIATED

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

The resistor wire is toast so its either being replaced with a new resistor wire or its being replaced with a standard wire and the coil is being replaced with a new coil with a built in resistor.

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

I agree resistor wire is toast. didn't know if i could wire in a resistor in the resistor wire or run a new wire with the resistor wired in?? Is there a certain resistor i should use or will any ballast resistor work?? if i replace coil with one that has a internal resistor,is it as easy as put coil on and just cap off the present resistor wire??? THANKS

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

the resistor wire is open that means its acting like its been cut so there is no way around replacing the wire. Even if you add a coil or external resistor the wire is open so it will not work. You need to find the ends of the resistor wire then replace with another or replace with standard wire and then install a external resistor or replace the coil with a internal resistor type.

 

[racer96]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

ok will try to get it tomorrow. Thanks Glenn

 

[Capt Mainwaring]

Re: no spark without jumper wire to coil???????????

Hi, interesting reading the lastest threads on the demon ignition ballast circuit, mine is suffering, 1988 2655 Bayliner-OMC 5.7, will start with a jump lead to coil , grey/ black, red/purple removed from +b post on the coil, it starts half a turn, I have then put the leads back on remove jumplead, it runs ok, when its warm.( I have unplugged the ESA so as to not to have any false drain away, its all a bit

1/ can you say what voltage should be at +b coil from start, 1st turn of the ignition key, 2nd Starter position??

Now my readings are 4.45Volts to 8v on start.

having looked at Captain Bobs colour wiring diagram post most helpful

My thoughts are the resistor wire to the altenator or the altenator or I am losing it some where else?

 

[Mick1965]

Which wire is the resistor wire ?