Crank, no spark. Need advice.

[yamjer]

Are you in Australia too?

LoL. not quite. Northern Ontario!!

 

[nola mike]

I've been disconnecting the W/G from the sensor not the coil neg and attaching ground to sensor.

What? No! You tap the w/g wire to ground when it's disconnected from the sensor.

 

[yamjer]

What? No! You tap the w/g wire to ground when it's disconnected from the sensor.

K. Misunderstood your last post, and I have been tapping w/g wire to ground and get nada!

 

[tfret]

Could be the ignition sensor in the distributor. I’ve replaced mine 3 times in 14-15 years. Two of those times it just died with no spark.

 

[yamjer]

Could be the ignition sensor in the distributor. I’ve replaced mine 3 times in 14-15 years. Two of those times it just died with no spark.

Thanks. Hoping so. Just waiting for sensor to come. Hopefully tomorrow!!

 

[tfret]

Yeah it’s not difficult. Had to do it a third time this Spring myself.

 

[yamjer]

Well replaced ignition sensor and didn't start. Really not sure what's what. Don't see it being Thunderbolt but .....

 

[nola mike]

Well replaced ignition sensor and didn't start. Really not sure what's what. Don't see it being Thunderbolt but .....

Didn't sound like that's where the troubleshooting led... You never got a spark by tapping the wire or from that last post you don't perform the test correctly.

 

[yamjer]

Didn't sound like that's where the troubleshooting led... You never got a spark by tapping the wire or from that last post you don't perform the test correctly.

For the cost thought I might as well. In your opinion is Thunderbolt my only option now?

 

[Scott06]

For the cost thought I might as well. In your opinion is Thunderbolt my only option now?

Troubleshooting chart says if you tap w/g wire and get no spark to test coil replacement if still no spark then replace ignition module… keep following the chart

Have you ohm’Ed out the primary and secondary sides of the coil or swaped it with a spare ? If coil checks out then yes bite the bullet and replace module. U may find a used one on eBay…

 

[yamjer]

Troubleshooting chart says if you tap w/g wire and get no spark to test coil replacement if still no spark then replace ignition module… keep following the chart

Have you ohm’Ed out the primary and secondary sides of the coil or swaped it with a spare ? If coil checks out then yes bite the bullet and replace module. U may find a used one on eBay…

I followed flow chart a few times and always failed at the spark test (last test). Get 12V on coil. Changed coil and sensor as well. I've been looking for a module and havent found one yet. Hard to pay for the used one when no returns if it doesnt work.

 

[Scott06]

I followed flow chart a few times and always failed at the spark test (last test). Get 12V on coil. Changed coil and sensor as well. I've been looking for a module and havent found one yet. Hard to pay for the used one when no returns if it doesnt work.

then u need a new module. while the Tbolt is a great system the cost of the module is insane… and now many are NLA.
others here have swapped out entire system for the delco est which is an OEM quality system used on many VP and merc engines. The entire delco system is usually less than an module.

generally speaking on ebay if the part is misrepresented you have some recourse to get made whole. I bought and sold several modules on ebay when i did my repower years back. Sold the V6 module i didnt need and bought the v8 module i did need plus a spare…if yiu do a search you will find a bunch of TB 4 modules on there now, some priced ok some overpriced…its either that or the delco est https://www.michiganmotorz.com/gm-v8-est-electronic-distributor-kit

 

[yamjer]

then u need a new module. while the Tbolt is a great system the cost of the module is insane… and now many are NLA.
others here have swapped out entire system for the delco est which is an OEM quality system used on many VP and merc engines. The entire delco system is usually less than an module.

generally speaking on ebay if the part is misrepresented you have some recourse to get made whole. I bought and sold several modules on ebay when i did my repower years back. Sold the V6 module i didnt need and bought the v8 module i did need plus a spare…if yiu do a search you will find a bunch of TB 4 modules on there now, some priced ok some overpriced…its either that or the delco est https://www.michiganmotorz.com/gm-v8-est-electronic-distribut

then u need a new module. while the Tbolt is a great system the cost of the module is insane… and now many are NLA.
others here have swapped out entire system for the delco est which is an OEM quality system used on many VP and merc engines. The entire delco system is usually less than an module.

generally speaking on ebay if the part is misrepresented you have some recourse to get made whole. I bought and sold several modules on ebay when i did my repower years back. Sold the V6 module i didnt need and bought the v8 module i did need plus a spare…if yiu do a search you will find a bunch of TB 4 modules on there now, some priced ok some overpriced…its either that or the delco est https://www.michiganmotorz.com/gm-v8-est-electronic-distributor-kit

Thanks for reply. I have used Michiganmotorz because its close. Will do a search.

 

[yamjer]

How difficult is the distributor kit to install?

 

[yamjer]

then u need a new module. while the Tbolt is a great system the cost of the module is insane… and now many are NLA.
others here have swapped out entire system for the delco est which is an OEM quality system used on many VP and merc engines. The entire delco system is usually less than an module.

generally speaking on ebay if the part is misrepresented you have some recourse to get made whole. I bought and sold several modules on ebay when i did my repower years back. Sold the V6 module i didnt need and bought the v8 module i did need plus a spare…if yiu do a search you will find a bunch of TB 4 modules on there now, some priced ok some overpriced…its either that or the delco est https://www.michiganmotorz.com/gm-v8-est-electronic-distributor-kit

Will the newer TB4 module work on my motor?

 

[Scott06]

Will the newer TB4 module work on my motor?

any TB module will in theory work on any TB distributor... The catch is the wiring connections. if the connectors between existing wiring and proposed module work then yes , if not you have to splice and rewire. Not knowing what connections you have / are trying to connect its not possible to say with certainty.

So in theory yes you can make it fit but depends on how confident you are doing wiring ... which is why most folks use the Delco system .

Instructions are here http://marineengines4less.com/images/companies/1/EST Ignition Instructions - ME4L.pdf?1431462059320

 

[yamjer]

any TB module will in theory work on any TB distributor... The catch is the wiring connections. if the connectors between existing wiring and proposed module work then yes , if not you have to splice and rewire. Not knowing what connections you have / are trying to connect its not possible to say with certainty.

So in theory yes you can make it fit but depends on how confident you are doing wiring ... which is why most folks use the Delco system .

Instructions are here http://marineengines4less.com/images/companies/1/EST Ignition Instructions - ME4L.pdf?1431462059320

Appreciate the response. Thanks again. I am trying to buy the tb4 on ebay. If that doesnt work guess I will get the Delco and get ready for next season.

 

[yamjer]

Letting all know that I replaced the TB4 with a Delco HEI. Starts and runs. Need to do some tweeks (timing) but for the cost, worth ditching the TB4. Thanks all for the advice and help!!!