Pickup Coil

1991 MerCruiser 5.0 Engine died. Thunderbolt trouble shoot guide said how to test and it was the pickup coil in the dist. Changed and started right up. After about 5 to 10 min. it died again. What could be the cause?

Tim Bell

Re: Pickup Coil

Pick up coils are funny.they have to practicly be touching.the closer the gap the better.something may have slack in it changing the gap.

Re: Pickup Coil

Tim Bell said:

1991 MerCruiser 5.0 Engine died. Thunderbolt trouble shoot guide said how to test and it was the pickup coil in the dist. Changed and started right up. After about 5 to 10 min. it died again. What could be the cause?

Tim Bell

Click to expand...

Did you try that again? Add - clean with steel wool any and all connections.

Re: Pickup Coil

You need to verify voltage to the coil.

Either that coil needs a voltage ballast or you have a alternator voltage regulator issue *if you are burning up coils that quick*. What was you volt meter reading when it was running?

Re: Pickup Coil

Tim Bell said:

the pickup coil in the dist. Changed and started right up. After about 5 to 10 min. it died again. What could be the cause?

Tim Bell

Click to expand...

For carbureted engine models, The proper name for the sensor mounted under a Mercruiser stock OEM distributor cap is "ignition sensor". A "pickup coil" is used on older EFI engine models. Older EFI's also use a "ignition model" mounted under a OEM distributor cap where your ignition sensor is located.

The most common things that could keep damaging the ignition sensor are, voltage spike within the ignition system, bent/loose rotor hitting the ignition sensor, or wobble on the distributor shaft allowing the rotor to hit the sensor, Bad ground.

Make sure you battery cables are clean and tight at both ends to avoid voltage spike. Also check your alternator voltage with a multimeter.

Good luck.