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Author Topic: Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?  (Read 796 times)

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Offline starsnbars89

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Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?
« on: April 07, 2013, 07:55:14 PM »
I have an early-'90s Cobia Spirit 1950 here with the Mercruiser Alpha1 3.0L L4 130hp inboard engine. Has the digital ignition but won't spark. I've run the diagnostic tests already and narrowed it down to the spark amplifier or a wiring issue. Anyone know what terminals should be hot on the input connector for the spark amplifier? I know that the coil end should have two hot terminals and mine only has one putting out 10V. However, the input for the amplifier also only has one hot terminal putting out 10V as well while the other is putting out .38V?? This makes me think that it's not the amplifier at fault but a wiring harness issue. Would that be a fair assessment? Or is there something I'm overlooking? All the fuses are good under the helm, the key switch is working, all the wiring LOOKS ok, juice is flowing fine everywhere else, just no spark! Trying to fix this thing cheaply so any help would be appreciated, thanks!
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2013, 09:19:30 PM »
These guys here know a hell of a lot about old Hondas and other motorcycles but if you want to know about Mercruiser or boats engines and outdrives go here:

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/forumdisplay.php?28-Mercruiser-Sterndrive-Forum
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Offline starsnbars89

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Re: Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2013, 07:21:02 PM »
Yeah, I went on iboats.com and asked but I thought maybe someone on here might know something. Figured it never hurts to ask!
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline Duanob

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Re: Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2013, 10:26:49 AM »
Yeah Iboats is kind of hit or miss. I got the best advice from marineengines. I've had volvo-pentas and mercruisers. There is usually a mechanic or two cruising those forums.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline starsnbars89

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  • It's like flying by the seat of your pants.
Re: Mercruiser boat engine issues--anyone with experience?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2013, 05:56:08 PM »
Yeah, a guy on iboats has helped a bit but we seem to be lacking communication on the wiring diagram somewhere. I'll give marineengines a try. Thanks!
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"
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