I have a 1986 Alpha One Mercuiser 140(3.0 L) that ran fine last year. This year it wouldn't turnover. We had the starter rebuilt. Now it will turnover but the coil is not producing a spark. We tried, unsuccessfully, jumping/looking for a spark between the secondary coil wire (the one from the coil to the distributor) and several unpainted spots on the block after doing each of the following:<br /> 1. replacing the coil with 2 new ones (including 1 from a running car) <br /> 2. measuring 11.98V at the + coil terminal, 8v during cranking <br /> 3. jumped a wire directly from + battery terminal to + coil terminal<br /> 4. disconnected the gray wire at the tach<br /> 5. checked the shifter switch by attempting to start (turn the engine over) with the switch in the "in gear" position. No starter activity unless the shifter switch was in the "neutral" gear position. <br /> 6. replacing the condensor<br />What have I done wrong or what am I missing? The boat is 1.5 hrs from here. So, the more suggestions provided, the more I can try when I work on the boat again.
