1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

renken67

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
36
I got ahold of one of these about a year ago and would use it to putter about the lake. Well after de-winterizing the thing, i cant get any spark. I've done some wire investigation but i cannot for the life of me find where the spark is being lost. Its an intermittant drop in spark. very rarely, it will muster enough spark to ignite a couple of rotations and then die again. When i can get it to spark, its usually an extremely weak spark. I'm hoping to find a wiring diagram for it because i have one yellow wire coming off of the ignition control module that seems to lead nowhere. I'd be very grateful to any help, advice, or experience that can be offered forth.
 

Ernest T

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
367
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

Typical symptoms of a bad CDI. Unfortunately, there is not an easy way to test it. Best bet is to try to find one you can swap out.
 

renken67

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
36
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

I think i might have just had a heart attack when i found out what the cost of a CDI is. All that for a little black box?
Is it not possible to disassemble and rebuild?
 

Ernest T

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
367
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

I've never heard of anyone repairing one. I'd look for a used one. You can usually find someone parting out a ski on EBay or one of the ski forums: http://www.greenhulk.net/forums/, http://www.pwctoday.com/

If its not the CDI its the coils in stator, but that gets more complicated and equally or more expensive to fix.

Hey, I just found this thread that may help you test the CDI: http://www.greenhulk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=139285

If the CDI checks out, there is a way to check the output voltage from the stator, but I don't have a service manual for that engine, so I don't know the numbers.
 

renken67

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
36
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

Well lets just hope you are right about this. just placed an order for one at 100 bucks. from what i'm seeing, thats a steal
 

Ernest T

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
367
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

Did you see the post above about testing the CDI? I've never heard of anyone testing one before, but found this thread and thought it might give you an idea. I think you would need a very good multimeter to do it.

Good luck. If the CDI doesn't work you will have to pull the engine to replace the coils in the stator......probably another $100.
 

renken67

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
36
Re: 1988 WaveRunner WR500g No Spark

So i replaced the stator assembly, the flywheel, the cdi, and still nothing. i'm assuming all thats left is the coil pack? it sparks now, but the sspark is so weak that it doesnt fire.
 
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