Power pack problem?

dogclinic

Cadet
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
14
hope some one can help with this. i've been experiencing a miss on my 1997 j90 spl. I replaced a coil and it went away. Ran good for a day or so, but then the problem came back, got worse, and then the engine quit and won't start. when it was running fast, I heard a clatter that sounded like a ground fault but I couldn't track it down. I suspect a short followed by a power pack failure. Am I on the right track?
 

dogclinic

Cadet
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
14
Re: Power pack problem?

I had to replace the exhaust cover gasket over the winter which meant i had to detach or wrangle a lot of the electrical components on the back of the engine, so I'm more likely to suspect that I caused this, but I can't figure out what I did. Can a bad plug wire set all this in motion?
 

Bosunsmate

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,129
Re: Power pack problem?

Yes. It can blow a powerpack as the charge built up has no where to discharge properly so can blow the pack
 

dogclinic

Cadet
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
14
Re: Power pack problem?

Also -- and this seems far-fetched -- but when I replaced the exhaust cover I used stainless bolts because some of the originals bolts had corroded. Is stainless a poorer conductor of electricity? The main ground for a number of the engine electric circuits is on the exhaust cover.
 

orbanp

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
324
Re: Power pack problem?

Stainless steel is good enough conductor, and the bolts are quite a sizable cross section, so this should not make any difference.

Good luck, Peter
 

dogclinic

Cadet
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
14
Re: Power pack problem?

OK. Thanks.
I guess my other question then is if a plug wire can appear normal at idle but then start arcing as the throttle opens
 

Bosunsmate

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,129
Re: Power pack problem?

Yes, you can run it at night and look for shorts
 

dogclinic

Cadet
Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
14
Re: Power pack problem?

It's been suggested elsewhere that a short wouldn't be audible at speed. Any thoughts?
 
Top