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AQ131Dlost spark at coil

M

mrdopes

Contributing Member
"Hey fellows,

I have an aq1

"Hey fellows,

I have an aq131d that i have not started since last season. Well, today, i decided that i should put the battery in it and give it a go......

I hooked up the ear muffs to the drive with the hose....

I primed the carb with some fuel by pumping the accelerator a little, and turned the key..... after a second or two it rumbled into existence, ran for about 5 seconds, then died.

After that, i have not been able to get it to fire.

I checked for fuel, and everything was okay there.....compression is good.... i checked for spark, and either i am blind, or it has lost its spark.

I put a screwdriver in the plug wire and put it next to a ground and nothing....then i pulled the coil wire, put it next to a ground and nothing... Im not seeing any spark at all, but it did fire initially....

It was winterized properly last season and i have had it ready to run this season for about 2 months now, i just haven't had the time to start it till today.



any ideas??

Could there be a fuse or relay somewhere that was tripped?

How can i test the coil to make sure it is working?

any ideas would be greatly appreciated."
 
"Try a jumper from the + o

"Try a jumper from the + of the battery to the + of the coil and see what happens. Remember that if it starts, you will have to remove the jumper to stop it, it won't stop by turning the ignition key off. If it starts, then there is something wrong in the ignition switch, or in the wire from the switch to the coil, or the safety neutral switch in the control (if installed) is acting-up.

If it does not start and there is still no spark, check points, rotor and cap."
 
"Thanks El.....its getting a l

"Thanks El.....its getting a little dark now, but i will give this a try as soon as daylight permits.

I appreciate it."
 
"Hi William, I have the exact

"Hi William, I have the exact same motor and it seems the points on the 131 are a bit fussy. Pull off the cap and rotor and gently pry open the points and insert a emery board between them and give it a few brisk strokes to freshen them up. Then manually turn the engine over by the harmonic untill the points are all the way opened,(you can tell when the rocker is on the highest point on one of the lobes on the shaft).Then loosen the adjustment screw and insert a 0.016 in feeler guage between the points and hold it shut with one hand and tighten the screw back up. It helps to give it a little whiff of W-D 40 before putting the rotor and cap back on. It keeps moisture from turning your points green."
 
"Cool... thx Dana. I apprecia

"Cool... thx Dana. I appreciate the advice. I will give this, and El's advice, a try as soon as i wake up. The sun has set and has brought my trouble shooting to an abrupt halt....

i wish i had a 3 car garage so i could fit the boat in it too...lol..."
 
"Ok. I tried the jumper wire

"Ok. I tried the jumper wire from + battery terminal to the coil+ side, and still no spark.

Im off to work now, but will check the points, cap and rotor tomorrow morning. I stopped by the store and picked up a feeler gauge...

anything specific i should be looking for?

Dana left some detailed advice, ill follow that, but if there is anything else i should keep an eye out for let me know...

how would i know if the points are bad?? Not trying to sound lame, but ive never worked on a points system before...


thanks"
 
"William, according to the own

"William, according to the owner's manual, the point gap is 0.4 mm (0.016").

http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/PIE/ViewFileFrame.aspx?n=172178&r=2008-10-29-17-5 3-18&t=PDF&a=7746277&p=T403&d=OwnersPublication&s=15176602&lang=en-GB

I have stated many times (and I will keep doing so) that in today's day and age points and condensers belong either in a museum or in a garbage can, not in an engine distributor. You may want to consider getting rid of yours and installing a Pertronix #2842 electronic ignition kit. It takes less than one hour to install and you will be glad you did."
 
"hey el,

is this set, the P

"hey el,

is this set, the Pertronix 2842, all inclusive for the conversion? and i would need the clockwise rotation model, correct?

i might just pick up that kit."
 
"The set includes all you need

"The set includes all you need for the conversion. That kit fits your distributor, which is clockwise rotation. Just remove the points and condenser, attach the module and adaptor plate, slide the magnetic sleeve into the shaft cam, connect the two wires to the coil (red to +, black to -), install the rotor and cap, and off you go.

Good luck."
 
"Mr.Pescador is right William.

"Mr.Pescador is right William.I was just trying to get you running. I still have points and have been meaning to put a elec. in it but i kinda think it's fun fiddling with the points all the time, it's kinda like a scab that just won't heal, LOL"
 
"a scab that just wont heal...

"a scab that just wont heal.....that funny, and its so true. I think that i am going to get the kit. The local marine parts store wants 50 bucks just for the points and condenser....for 70 bucks i can get the conversion kit.....

i wonder if this kit would work with the aq130c as well. I have 2 of those attached to another project that still has the points on them.....

hmmmmmmm........

what gets me is that i just got done putting a nice chunk of $$$ into a new floor and upholstery. I did all the work myself, but the cost of materials, resin, etc etc added up. Add to that the cost of the material to reupholster the interior.... Then, right when i get the floor done....the engine dies....lol

i guess thats the way it works, right? someone once told me that boats are not only addicting, but a financial hole in the water....he was sooo right."
 
"William, as far as I can reca

"William, as far as I can recall the Pertronix #2842 also fits the AQ130 distributor. But in case of doubt, just give the Pertronix guys a call, I'm sure they will be more than willing to help you."
 
"stupid boat ran great yesterd

"stupid boat ran great yesterday, drive 1hr away, put boat in water, no start. please help trying to play hookie from work tuesday."
 
"sorry EL Pescador, new at thi

"sorry EL Pescador, new at this. How do i start a new thread? i have no spark from coil, I have power at both sides of coil with key on. I have a new coil. It had the dist..conversion kit on it already when i bought the boat. timing belt is a little sloppy i will change that. But for some reason i cant get spark? also if my temp gauge is right it seems to run hot, when it did run of course.... Got up one morning and it wouldn't start. I get out of work at 5 hopefully you have an awnser!! thank you so much"
 
"Jake, to start a new thread,

"Jake, to start a new thread, go to the "Volvo Penta Gas" forum page, then click at the top on "Start a new discussion""
 
"well guys,

i did order the

"well guys,

i did order the electronic ignition kit.....found it on ebay for 50 bucks.

but, i had some credit (about 2 yrs old) at the marine parts store i used it to get new points and a condenser.

I put the new points in, new condenser, checked the plugs, wires, and dist cap....all good there, there the rotor, all good there...

cranked her over, and still have no spark at the coil.

i tried the jumper wire from bettary to + side of coil, and no go.....

What would the most likely culprit be, do you think?

What would the plan of action be now?"
 
"Dumb question: have you verif

"Dumb question: have you verified if the distributor is turning? You can remove the cap, crank the engine and have a look."
 
"oh ya, its turning.

i dont

"oh ya, its turning.

i dont think there are any 'dumb' questions out there....just 'less likely to be' questions.

i once had a friend bring over his boat because he could get it started after he did a tune up.

I asked him jokingly if he had put everything back in it...well, when i took the dist cap off, he was missing his rotor. lol..

but, in reference to your question el, yes, it is turning."
 
they need to make a 'marin

they need to make a 'marineengine.com application for blackberries. It would keep me from having to run in the house to use the computer.
 
"OK, if you still have points

"OK, if you still have points installed, they need to open and close so that the coil can generate spark at the required intervals. You need to use an ohm meter and connect one lead to the (-) of the coil and the other one to ground. Disconnect the wire that goes to the (+) of the coil and the ignition wire going from the coil to the distributor, but leave the wire going from the (-) of the coil to the points. Then, turn the engine slowly, if possible by hand. You should see the ohm meter indicating zero (or close to zero) ohms whenever the points close, and infinity (open circuit) when they open. Is that the case?"
 
"im going to have to run some

"im going to have to run some errands right now, but as soon as i get back, and it isn't 103 degrees outside, ill do this next step.

thanks very much el.

i really appreciate the help here."
 
"-its about 101 outside now, a

"-its about 101 outside now, and in about an hour ill run out and check the Ohms on the coil like you suggested.

I was thinking though, would the coil on a aq130c interchange with the coil on an aq131d? i have twin aq130c's in storage, and th"
 
"They should work, but check t

"They should work, but check the coil resistance first. If 3 ohm, use it without external resistor. If 1.5 ohm, you need a ballast resistor."
 
"okay,

so, here we go:

I

"okay,

so, here we go:

I went to the storage yard, pulled the coil out of one of the other engines, went home, and put it on (after checking ohms for compatibility). Turned it over, and......nothing....no spark.....no run....nothing....


then, i took off the dist cap, ran some emery cloth over the contacts, rotor contacts, etc, etc... re-gaped the points....put everything back together...... cracked it over and it came to life with a cloud of smoke (it hasnt ran since last season). Now, it is running great and starting everytime i turn the key.

I changed back to the original coil, and.....it still starts and runs....

hmmmmm....

im not sure if i fixed it or if it is some intermittent problem that is in-between temper tantrums....

Everything is checking out okay though.....

I guess that i'll wait till tomorrow and see if it starts then...then the next day too, till im sure it wont die in the middle of the lake.

Im guessing that the points may have been the issue and that i re-gaped them and corrected it.

I ordered the electronic ignition kit, so when it comes ill put it in and keep my fingers crossed...

Dana and El, thanks for your help.

I have no doubt that ill be back posting for one thing or anther, lets just hope its a new thread and not this same one again."
 
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