No spark!

[jimmy56]

I own a 1987 bayliner capri 3.0 liter, used the boat all summer up till labor day, ran great, no problems. Stored it outside with new cover for a month, went to start it and I'm not getting any spark to the plugs, points don't spark either. I can't figure out why. Could there be something in the shifter or the esa switch? Does anybody have any idea why all of the sudden there's no spark. Thanks! Jim

 

[bondo]

Ayuh,.... Is there voltage to the (+) terminal on the coil,..??

if so, change the points,...

 

[RicardoMarine]

Do a continuity check to see if the ignition coil is receiving power at the + side.

Make certain that the contact points are able to close and open the circuit.
If you adjust the contact points, use a dwell meter and set dwell.
(Point gap is an estimate only of correct dwell)

If there is a ballast resistor in the loop, check both sides of the resistor.
There will be power at either side, one will be full voltage, the other will be resisted voltage.

Temporarily disconnect the ESA system, and give it a try.

You may also want to test the ignition coil.

Examples only

We need Voltage to the coil's primary side.
We need a triggering system (points in your case) that completes the circuit so that the primary field becomes saturated.
The dwell angle offers the correct saturation duration, and must be correct.
The triggering system then opens the circuit so that the primary field collapses.
As the primary field collapses, the secondary side discharges the high tension voltage.... I. E., spark.

For your 4 cylinder engine, this repeats itself 4 times for every two crankshaft revolutions.



.

 

[jimmy56]

Thanks guys for your information! After some testing, come to find out it was the tachometer that is bad, removed that wire from the coil and the boat started right up. Thanks again for your help.