1989 2.3 cobra dying issue

[rhino1977]

Just bought a 90 specteum. Took out for first time, started good, ran good, up till about 180 degrees, then just died and would not start. Trolled and fished for a couple hours, and engine staryed right baxk up and ran great until about the same temp, and just died again. Havent had a chance to do much diagnostics on it yet, but really wondering about the coil.... boat shop did carb kit 2 weeks ago, and points, cond plugs ect last aug. Just seems like something is shuting down after operating temp, then cooling and working again.... any ideas?

 

[alldodge]

Just bought a 90 specteum. Took out for first time, started good, ran good, up till about 180 degrees, then just died and would not start. Trolled and fished for a couple hours, and engine staryed right baxk up and ran great until about the same temp, and just died again. Havent had a chance to do much diagnostics on it yet, but really wondering about the coil.... boat shop did carb kit 2 weeks ago, and points, cond plugs ect last aug. Just seems like something is shuting down after operating temp, then cooling and working again.... any ideas?

:welcome: to iboats

Sure sounds like electrical, but this is not a car, your overheating. The motor should have a 140 degree if it is open cooling, or 160 degree with closed cooling or MPI/TBI. How high does the temp go up on muffs or just sitting?

 

[MikDee]

:welcome: to iboats

Sure sounds like electrical, but this is not a car, your overheating. The motor should have a 140 degree Thermostat if it is open cooling, or 160 degree Thermostat with closed cooling or MPI/TBI. How high does the temp go up on muffs or just sitting?

Just added the word Thermostat.

 

[rhino1977]

So 180 is to hot? Carb 2.3 with cobra drive, not sure if that is open or closed coolin?

 

[MikDee]

So 180 is to hot? Carb 2.3 with cobra drive, not sure if that is open or closed coolin?

If it has a heat exchanger with antifreeze in it that's a sealed recirculating system to cool the block, with incoming fresh, or sea water, to cool the antifreeze (no water goes through the block) Then it's closed cooling.

Otherwise, it just cools the engine, & manifolds with incoming water, fresh, or sea water, open cooling.

 

[rhino1977]

I have no heat exchanger or antifreeze in system

 

[MikDee]

I have no heat exchanger or antifreeze in system

Then apprently you need a 140* thermostat

 

[MikDee]

It sounds like a faulty coil to me as well,,, How hot does it get after running awhile? Is it too hot to hold?

 

[rhino1977]

I didnt think to touch it when it acted up. Goin to try and get it to act up and see. The temp never got over 180 before it shut down

 

[rjtx667]

I can't say this is your issue or not, but years ago while we were out on the lake our 2.3 would run fine then just die.. wait a bit then it would start and run then just die. After lots of head scratching we found out the 2 mechanical advance springs in the distributor were broke (or at least 1 was) and it was those parts bouncing around and grounding out the points system. Like I said it might not be your case, but it could be worth looking at. While your in there looking I would also suggest looking at the mechanical weights and checking to see if there is any rust or build up on them. About 7 years ago ours ran horrible and could not get on plane, ended up the weights were rusted and could not function as they needed. After lots of searching I found a mallory electronic distributor, installed it and have not missed points since. It has more power and is more reliable than ever.