1989 Sea Ray thunderbolt no spark

[ivanisaacs24]

Guys,
I have a 1989 Sea Ray 200 BR with the 4.3 V6 in it and the thunderbolt ignition system. I bought this boat at an auction. Hour meter shows only 453 hours. Unfortunately no information came with the boat at the time of purchase. I get the boat home and put a new battery on it and attempted to start it. Just click. Replaced the slave solenoid just click. Jumped the starter and it would turn over. Bought another slave solenoid. This time it would click then turn over then click. So I decided to put a new starter on it. Now it turns over great but don’t start. So did some research and found that those thunderbolt modules go bad. So I bought one used off of eBay that supposedly came off a running boat. Installed it and still not firing. Decided to replace the entire system. Put on a new distributor, cap, button, plugs, wires, and coil. Still no fire. I get 12v going to the coil. I checked the red/white wire coming from the distributor and get 12v. I’m not sure what else to do or where else to go.
Here’s a list of what’s been replaced
Starter-new
Slave solenoid-new
Distributor-new
Coil-new
Cap-new
Button-new
Wires-new
Plugs-new
Ignition switch-new
Thunderbolt module-used (still have original)

Help guys idk where else to turn. Before I take it to a mechanic and spend no telling what else.

 

[dave8311]

Kill switch? Neutral start switch?

 

[cyclops222]

My 2002 5.0 Had a known problem with the tiny molded ignition part in the distributor. Some died quickly while others lasted.
Do a web search of ......1989 Thunderbolt Ignition problems..... Both the IV snd V were unreliable.

 

[Scott06]

Guys,
I have a 1989 Sea Ray 200 BR with the 4.3 V6 in it and the thunderbolt ignition system. I bought this boat at an auction. Hour meter shows only 453 hours. Unfortunately no information came with the boat at the time of purchase. I get the boat home and put a new battery on it and attempted to start it. Just click. Replaced the slave solenoid just click. Jumped the starter and it would turn over. Bought another slave solenoid. This time it would click then turn over then click. So I decided to put a new starter on it. Now it turns over great but don’t start. So did some research and found that those thunderbolt modules go bad. So I bought one used off of eBay that supposedly came off a running boat. Installed it and still not firing. Decided to replace the entire system. Put on a new distributor, cap, button, plugs, wires, and coil. Still no fire. I get 12v going to the coil. I checked the red/white wire coming from the distributor and get 12v. I’m not sure what else to do or where else to go.
Here’s a list of what’s been replaced
Starter-new
Slave solenoid-new
Distributor-new
Coil-new
Cap-new
Button-new
Wires-new
Plugs-new
Ignition switch-new
Thunderbolt module-used (still have original)

Help guys idk where else to turn. Before I take it to a mechanic and spend no telling what else.

Google thunderbolt troubleshooting there is a guide in the manual that u should follow including tapping the white green wire to ground


You replaced the distributor did u also replace the sensor in it ?

The TB ignition is one of the best systems out there . Only issue is if the module dies they are either NLA or expensive

Most folks
If they need a module convert to the equally good Delco est

 

[ivanisaacs24]

Google thunderbolt troubleshooting there is a guide in the manual that u should follow including tapping the white green wire to ground


You replaced the distributor did u also replace the sensor in it ?

The TB ignition is one of the best systems out there . Only issue is if the module dies they are either NLA or expensive

Most folks
If they need a module convert to the equally good Delco est

 

[ivanisaacs24]

I have not replaced the sensor inside the distributor. That’s the only thing I didn’t do. I have gone through the troubleshooting guide and still get nothing. The only thing not changed is the ignition module inside the distributor. How hard is it to convert over to the Delco est?? Do you have any information on it and an idea of the cost?

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[Scott06]

I have not replaced the sensor inside the distributor. That’s the only thing I didn’t do. I have gone through the troubleshooting guide and still get nothing. The only thing not changed is the ignition module inside the distributor. How hard is it to convert over to the Delco est?? Do you have any information on it and an idea of the cost?

Test the sensor in the protocol that BT posted u can verify if it is sensor or module then make intelligent decisions.

Google Delco est for 4.3 to see current costs as that is what I would do to tell u …

 

[nola mike]

..... Both the IV snd V were unreliable.

Extremely reliable systems. Mine is 36 years old, so...

 

[nola mike]

Test the sensor in the protocol that BT posted u can verify if it is sensor or module then make intelligent decisions.

Google Delco est for 4.3 to see current costs as that is what I would do to tell u …

Sensor is pretty cheap and easy to replace

 

[cyclops222]

My 2002 is still original. But 2 of us does not mean they were reliable.