weak spark-lightning?

[bronxlatetour]

I have a 1990 sea ray 250DA with the 7.4 Bravo serial#OD 376979. Last time I ran the boat aprox 1 week ago, it ran beautifully. I took it out today and wouldn't start. I lifted the merc cover off af the carb and noticed a few strange things. First, the wire from the coil was disconected. There was a black oily substance on the underside of the cover above where the coil is. This same substance was inside of the top of the coil where the wire plugs in. I cleaned it out and cleaned the wire and reconnected. No good. Next I tried putting the wire next to a ground and cranked it, very little spark. Battery power is fine and I'm getting fuel. There is an excellant chance my boat was struck by lightning while sitting in my driveway. Is it possible that this could have fried my coil or something else? As I said, I'm getting a spark but very weak and not as fast as usual if I tested it. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

 

[KaGee]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

Sounds like the coil is leaking it's oil.

 

[JoJoBetsy]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

Bad coil. Don't think the lightning would have done this but at any rate it sounds as though it is time for an ignition tune-up for sure. Wires, cap, rotor, sensor, coil, and plugs. If all that was done recently, then the new coil should do the trick. Report back so we know.

jb

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

Thanks for the help. I replaced the coil with a new thunderbolt from Sierra for $36.00. The 7.4 roared to life in my driveway. I think that the coil was fried by lightening because of the oil which was spewed all over underneath the cover. If it was hit the oil would have flash boiled and expanded out of the coil. Reguardless, it's running great again so I don't care. Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

If you had a ligtning strike, you would be replacing a lot more than just your coil.

 

[b00tstrap]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

If you got hit by lightning I would think a lot more wiring and electronics would need to be replaced. The coil is one of the only components meant for high voltages... although nothing like lightning can produce.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: weak spark-lightning?

Old coils will leak for no reason.Or they just start breaking down,overheat then leak..