Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

[Skeet200ZX]

I have been searching and reading post's for the past week and joined as a member today, so first let me say the wealth of knowledge available here is mind blowing and I think it is awesome the way you guys freely give out sound advice to help out a total stranger!!! My problem: I have a 1989 Johnson GT150, it starts okay but as soon as I put it in gear it misses horribly. . I did the resistance checks on the stator and trigger and they seem fine . . the spark test revealed the following: stbd top - weak spark, stbd middle - weak spark, stbd bottom - no spark, port side all jump 1/2 inch and are sharp and bright. By weak spark I mean I have to touch the plug to ground before it will do anything. My first thought is powerpack.?? Any other suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! By the way, I have the CDI 113-3865 power pack. Thanks in advance!

 

[reeldutch]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

swap the coils and see if the problem follows the coil or stays with the cylinder.

could be bad coils or dirty grounds.
could be anything.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

I checked the coil grounds and they are fine. The way this problem started . . about 3 months ago I was heading to the ramp and suddenly couldn't get on plane, checked everything, found no problems, back to the lake, ran great with no issues. Put boat in last weekend, started fine, idled fine (I thought), put it in gear and it started missing, couldn't get on plane again, tried several times throughout the day with same results. Have been troubleshooting since . . . is it likely that two coils would go weak and one dead at the same time?

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

>>>bump

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Okay, well I guess I'm not gonna get any advise. Thanks guys, ordered a new power pack today . . I'll post if it fixes it.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Thanks to all who, nevermind . . . thanks "reeldutch" . . . it was the power pack. Bought the Sierra $128 plus shipping . . . CLR Marine.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

The odds of 3 coils going out on one side at the same time is too silly, I suppose it will happen to me for saying that, but so far it was the power pack in my case.

The shift interrupt switch can cause one side to be faulty, its an easy test though, just unplug it.

I also got the sierra PP for my 1994 150 last yr, seems to work fine.
Can't beat the price.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Tested engine this afternoon . . all six cylinders firing strong . . still no power, the engine is on a 20 foot Skeeter bass boat and usually runs about 65 with just me and gear. Today all it would do is waller in the water with the bow up high, my buddy moved to the bow of the boat and it slowly got on plane but the bow still wouldn't lift, max speed 47. I have no tach and haven't had one since I got the engine five years ago. We checked spark again at the ramp and since it was just getting dark I noticed a stray spark from the plug wire boot at the coil #4 cylinder. There is a rip in the boot from the edge in about 3/8", and #6 is the same way. I guess I'll try new wires and plugs tomorrow and see if that helps. Still could be a fuel problem though, I think? I'll post results.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

I bet if you ran the engine in the dark it would be a spark show, used to do that with my volvo to trace voltage leaks.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

You may still have an electroic miss in the engine. You probably are not hitting on all 6 cyls. Jones has a good comment. Not unusual for spark from an old coil wire to jump to ground, esp on the cowling latches. Try running with the cowling off. You can replace just the wire only (bombardier makes a coil wire kit which is sold individually.)

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Heres the latest: Compression check - 90 -100 on all six. Replaced fuel lines, new spark plugs & wires, decarbed engine. Idles fairly smooth, for a Johnson! When I put it in gear it gets a rough idle, when I give it the gas, its like I'm only giving it half throttle when I'm giving it full throttle, butterflys are opening fully, eventually it will get going but it takes about 1/4 mile or so before it will plane off and sounds great when it does, runs smooth, but only getting about 50 mph (by gps), usually get around 63 mph by myself. Would a weak fuel pump cause this? I can't imagine it being a spark issue because it does eventually go and run good just not like before (less than a month ago). It seems as though it is a fuel issue. Ideas? Please? Thanks in advance!

 

[kissmywake]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Have you checked the timing at full throttle? Make sure that the timer base is advancing all the way to the stop.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

The timing base is advancing all the way to the stop. Timing has been checked and is fine. Could it possibly be the fuel/water seperator, I have had this boat for 2 1/2 years and the engine for about 5 years. I have never changed the fuel water seperator filter, how often should these be changed? Thanks again.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Never changed the water seperator in 5 yrs,,,gee, let me think....

For now I'd bypass the filter, draw some fuel from the tank and check for water in a glass, I had almost 25% water in a 50 gal tank.(it leaked)

but what else haven't you done over the yrs?
have you rebuilt the carbs with new carb kits?
Change the lower unit oil?
Changed water pump every 2 yrs?
Do you ever remove the prop occasionally to check for fishing line that , if left , will chew up the oil seal?

When I got my 1994 J150 last yr I had a mechanic walk me through all these maintenance proceedures before I tried it in the water, found it needed all the above. I rebuilt the carbs myself and got all new fuel line and a 6 gal test tank, ran some seafoam through it and always add startron to fuel...it runs fine after all that.

I found my marine tech on craigslist looking for independant work, he charges $65 hr, how much do you think the marinas pay these guys?
Not much I bet.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Alright stop beating me up! lol I know I should change the filter, but it hasn't been 5 years, only 2 1/2. The carbs were completely rebuilt about 2 years ago, the lower unit is brand new (2 months ago) so the water pump is good. I will change that filter and see if it helps. Would a dying fuel pump cause this kind of problem? I did find a marine tech on craigs list that will rebuild the carbs for $215 for all six, GREATTTTTTTT price, I just need to get the money and get it to him. If the filter doesn't fix it then to the shop it will go.

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Update: Changed the fuel filter and fuel lines. Took boat to the lake and same problem . . no power at WOT, takes 1/4 mile to level off and runs about 45-50. Got home, pulled plugs, #6 looked brand new, check spark, NONE! Took P/P lead from #4, put it on #6 coil and it fires. This is the same coil that wouldn't fire before I replaced the P/P, after replacing the P/P it fired strong, now its dead again! What would cause that??? Stator??? Going NUTS here!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!! lol I also know I need new plug wires, could a bad plug wire grounding out burn up the power pack? Thanks in advance!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Yes, apparently if the hi voltage has nowhere to go it can go back through the PP and zap it.

I wouldn't leap to that conclusion first though, at least install new plug wires, check coils, clean coil grounds.

If you have a dva adapter , work through all the PP voltage tests.

If you need a cheap dva adaptor, just make your own .
http://switchbait.com/forums/showthread.php?t=561

 

[Skeet200ZX]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

New plugs, new wires, grounds good . . .still no spark on #6, so I'm pretty sure the new power pack got fried somehow!? I have the opportunity to buy a 1992 GT200 with a good powerhead for $500, I know it won't bolt up to my GT150, but the guy also has the exhaust stack from a 1996 Venom 200 that it will bolt to. I have a new lower unit on my GT150 that should bolt right up to the Venom exhaust stack. So I'll have an '89, '92, '96 GT150/200 Venom or something like that! lol But if that falls through, I'll have to find my spark/power pack failure issue, I'm guessing the Trigger would be suspect before the Stator. But thats just a guess, so . . .

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

Checking the rest of the ignition system with a special "peak reading" voltmeter would be a good idea. The Service manual identifies tests that can be done to both the stator and the timer base. Best to know if those are both ok before you splurge for another new pack.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Good spark, weak spark, no spark 89 Johnson 150

I think thats the best route, rather than frankensteining who knows what together, fix whatchagot.

You can make your own peak reading voltmeter adapter for less than $10, theres only 3 components, or just buy one.

If your going to play with these ignition systems you really need the ability to read the voltages, ordinary meters don't work.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2016261#post2016261