CDI Electronics Outboard Ignition Troubleshooting Guide

83 Mercury Troubleshooting Mercury MISS AT ANY RPM: 1. Check the battery voltage on the Red and White terminals (White/Red wire on the 114-2986) (they must be connected to the switch box) to Engine Ground throughout the RPM range. The voltage should be between 12V and 16V DC. A reading outside this range will damage the CD module. If the readings are abnormal, perform the voltage drop test described above. 2. Perform a high-speed shutdown and read the spark plugs. Check for water. A crack in the block can cause a high miss at high speed when the water pressure gets high, but a normal shutdown will mask the problem. TRIES TO RUN BACKWARDS: Check timing and timing belt. Mercury Battery CD Ignitions with Points 1966-1967 Models 950 and 1100 (With 114-2803/ 3 32-2803 Switch Box) (SERVICE NOTE) Check the battery voltage at approximately 3500-RPM. The MAXIMUM reading allowable is 16 volts. Over 16 volts will damage the ignition. Check for loose connections or a bad battery.. Maintenance free batteries are NOT recommended for this application. A CD Tester (CDI Electronics P/N: 511-9701) can be used to test the CD module, distributor cap, rotor button and spark plug wires on the engine. Technical Information: The points set at 0.005 on each set as a preliminary setting. Dwell must be set at 55 degrees with a dwell meter. Engine Wiring Connection for Testing Ignition Module 1. Clean all battery connections and engine grounds. 2. Disconnect the mercury tilt switch and retest. If the ignition works properly, replace the mercury switch. 3. Connect a spark gap tester to the spark plug wires and check for spark on all cylinders. If some cylinders spark and not others, the problem is likely in the distributor cap, rotor button or spark plug wires. 4. Connect a spark gap tester to the high-tension lead coming from the ignition coil and set it to approximately 7/16”. When you crank the engine over, if it sparks while the spark gap tester is connected to the coil and does not spark through the spark plug wires – there is a problem in the distributor cap, rotor button or spark plug wires. 5. Check voltage present on the White and Red terminals (White wire on the 114-2803) while at cranking. It MUST be at least 9.5 volts. If not, there is a problem in the harness, key switch, starter battery cables or battery. 6. Check DVA voltage on the Green wire going to the coil, it should be over 100 volts at cranking. 7. Disconnect the Brown points wires. Turn the ignition switch on and strike one of the Brown points wire against engine ground. The unit should spark each time. If the coil does spark, this means the CD module is usually good and the points, points plate and grounding wire for the points plate should be checked. 8. Connect a spark gap tester to the high-tension leads coming from the distributor cap and set the gap to