No Spark at Coil

[Raystownboater]

While failing to start my mercruiser 228, I traced the problem to the coil, so far. There is no spark at the coil, so I tried hooking up a lead from the battery, directly to the coil and still no spark. I converted my points ignition over to electronic so there is a black and red wire coming from the distributor which are hooked up to the - and + of the coil, repectively. there are also two grey wires going to the - side of the coil and a wire coming from the slave solenoid along with a second wire from the wire harness that goes to the + side of the coil.

Any ideas what Im missing? The coil is brand new.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Spark at Coil

Do you have a Pertronix conversion?
The first thing I would do is remove the gray wires from the - side of the coil. Then see if you have spark. The purple/yellow wire from the solenoid, only puts full battery power to the coil while cranking. It's possible you could have a problem with your electronic conversion. I have no idea how you check them.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Spark at Coil

Never did post this in your other thread, but here is a link to the OEM service manual for your engine.
http://www.4shared.com/document/M35B2RL4/Service_Manual_03.html

it has nothing to do with your aftermarket conversion.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: No Spark at Coil

I'll go out and check that but there is a brown/white wire that comes from the wire harness that is not connected to anything.......any idea what brown/white is used for on a 1980 mercruiser 228?

UPDATE: I was searching the service manual and found the wiring diagram that showed the brown/white wire connected to the - post on the distributor. I went out and hooked it up and had spark. Plugged the wire back into the distributor and hit the key. Stumbled for a minute then.......Fired right up.

Thanks so much for all the replies. This forum is worth its weight in GOLD!

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: No Spark at Coil

Never did post this in your other thread, but here is a link to the OEM service manual for your engine.
http://www.4shared.com/document/M35B2RL4/Service_Manual_03.html

Thank You!