350 mag mpi no spark
 

Need a little help here. I have a 350 mag mpi that has no spark/fire. The cap, rotor & wheel, and the sensor have been replaced. The coil and spark plugs have been replaced also. There is power into the coil and out to the distributor but nothing after that.

Sensor? Do you mean module or pickup?

Module. Sensor is the mercruiser parts term. I forgot to say that it has the Thunderbolt IV system according to my research. The pickup that you are referring to has to deal with a points distributor, correct?

MPI with a Thunderbolt IV ? I would doubt it. Most MPI's have the external coil GM HEI distributor set up. Merc calls it the Voyager.

Here is the 'Voyager' , again, identical GM Late Model computer controlled external coil HEI
#8 is magnetic pickup
#9 is module
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...sp?dnbr=809488 97&ivar=images/CRUISER/809488.97/7.png&inbr=2333&bnbr=80&bdesc=DISTRIBUTOR+AND+IGNI TION+COMPONENTS

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/image...09488.97/7.png

Here is another tech tip of mine for anyone replacing an ignition module. Every ignition module I've seen (probably for 20 yrs anyway) in the car/boat/recreation world that is supposed to come with heat sink paste, comes with dielectric grease. Dielectric grease, because of it's properties is clear. Heat sink paste will typically be white. I've seen some copper color.

Dielectric grease does nothing for heat transfer, which the module needs. You can buy heat sink compound from Radio Shack or other electronic stores.
http://www.heatsink-guide.com/compound.htm

Buyer and installer beware !

SB the Voyager system information is great, but that is not what the boat has. I have found a service bulletin from Mercruiser No. 83-24 that has the distributor that the boat has. The only thing is that I have not found on the system is the Ignition Amplifier. Could the ignition be controlled by the ECM?

What year is your motor ?

Oh boy. Here we go. Long story I will try to make it short. Boat is 2000 Regal 25LSC. Some where around 2001-2002 motor was replaced by a dealer no longer in business. I cannot find a Serial Plate and can't get to the the one by the starter to even see it, to find out what it is. The only place that I have found any kind of date is inside the distributor it has 12-20-99.

Reason for asking is that most mpi/efi anything used the Voyager ignition system. The early models, like the 320EFI small block used the Tbolt IV.
If you haven't used an online look up, BAM's is nice:
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/SelectProductLine.asp

You can go thru all sorts of motors to find what youi have.

As a note, the modules and Compouters aren't usually listed under the 'Distributor and Ignition' page.

Somewtimes they'll be on the 'Exhaust' page or 'Intake Manifold' page.

SB thanks for the information I will take a look. This has been a nightmare. Everywhere I go that is the first thing everyone wants. (engine make & serial). Fortunately I haven't had to replace much on the motor but with age/use just getting the common maint. parts has been a chore. I normally remove the parts, go to a local dealer and try to match. That has been the norm lately.

If this helps the Serial # range is OL331599 - OM299999

might be a 2001

The MPI 350 5.7 since 1996 to current has used 4 different ignition set ups. Year and correct engine serial # is important. This seems to be classic by boat owners not knowing this. All parts and engine set ups along with service procedures go off of engine serial #'s - model year does help but not 100 %.

If your posted serial # range is correct - U might have a bad ignition sensor assembly. 87-892150Q02 I have about a 100 of them all brand new and all OEM if you need one, also have the OEM service manual for sale as well.

Word of warning do not buy junk online ignition components for your marine engines. Yes they are cheaper but there has been a huge knock off companies from the Asian market selling cheap junk thru the US. Also carb rebuild kits have been copied. I promise, I know, have seen it first hand including the carb kits.

OM300000 and up started with the HVS and ECM 555. Hopefully u posted the correct serial # range of your app. If not the HVS ignition set up does not use a ignition sensor FYI.

Are saying that you installed a new ignition sensor assembly under the rotor as well ? If so you need to make sure that you connected the black wire (ground) from the sensor to a good clean unpainted ground. To test this use a jumper lead from the sensor black lead (ground) then connect the other end to your battery ground, If you engine has spark / and starts - you know it was the ground connection from your ignition sensor. if you do not still have spark it could be a junk sensor or something else. You will need to report back.

I replaced the ignition assembly with the same one that you are speaking about. That is the one the service bulletin talks about. Before i posted the serial # range, I looked at all the diagrams on the engine numbers that was posted, and they looked correct. I compared the few parts I have replaced with the part numbers I had. They were all correct.

I have done this. And also, I did use an ohm meter to insure a proper ground. After that did not work, I also did re-install the old on that was still working and still nothing. I also was thinking I had a defective part.

We are a new sponsor of OffShoreOnly.com. Please see our performance Dyna-Module for this application:
http://performancedistributors.com/p...d-distributor/

Here ya go a fairly good file on either 555 or mefi

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3w...Z2s/edit?pli=1

Wrong distributor but nice you are a sponsor.
This question has always been in my mind, but never asked, so here's a good time to ask.
What country of origin are your parts ?

That's correct about the module being wrong ignition set up for this app from the OP. Also it would be good to cross the years on the marine side of what your module could be installed for replacement..

Thanks and I always talk to you guys at PRI every year and you have been helpful there as well.

The Dyna-Module is made in USA. We do source only the best materials from all over the world.

Thank-YOU BUP!

Ok, I was looking at the diagram post by SB earlier in this thread--looks like what we call an 8-pin module.

The post after that, the OP said he did not have this distributor.

================================================== =====

But....somewhere I have a small list of the Merc 8 pin module's, which are of course GM's. I'll try to find that list ( sometime when I'm more free) which includes the GM# so you can use that to cross to yours. If, you don't have this info already, of course.

Thanks SB. We're new to this and will have to learn the ropes and read everything!!:cool-smiley-011:

SB diagram is not the app what the poster has, Mercruiser and other marine OEM's have used different distributor / ignition set ups thru out the years from Delco EST, HEI, HVS, distributorless, Prestolite BID, YEMS, along with old school points & condensers and the list goes on and on to name some.

Thank-you BUP! As you may already know, our specialty is the D.U.I. Distributor. But we do have some components and distributors for computer controlled engines.

Yep have all your info.

Many on the boat end when changing out distributors and ignition set ups either for replacements or conversions will buy the complete Delco EST set up for the main reasons of price and the ease / install of the system. Just saying

Maybe DUI can put a complete package together for the marine end to compete with the same as far as price and understanding the system plus ease of install.

Not to sound stupid but is your lanyard working correctly ? do you have tach when turning ignition key on and or when cranking engine over,

I know the fuel pump(s) has its own fuse so I would think they have power but want to ask does your injectors have power. if you can pull up the wiring diagrams for your engine - there is a 10 amp fuse plus all the wire color codes - make sure everything is good including fuse / connection. If I recall the fuse 10 amp should be ECM/injectors/ ignition and knock module (if applicable)

make sure your battery is good with 12.7 volts and make sure your new ignition sensor has a good ground. Did you clip a 12 gauge wire to the ignition sensor black wire ( ground) and connect the other end to the negative side of the battery ? just double checking if that's what you tried already

I would like a photo of the engine, personally. That way we/I know what set-up we are dealing with. Not too many EFI's out there using a T Bolt IV.

The best I can do and its not Thunderbolt IV but is V using MEFI 3 and ther was plenty of them in the field

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Me...nts/parts.html

and even a ton more 4.3 EFI look at the serial number runs of how many. Also the 6,2 MPI and the 5.0 all used this same set up thru out certain engine serial runs. 4.3 below and of all the engine serial runs, since many know boats.net.

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Me...%29/parts.html

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Me...tor/parts.html

Well consider me wrong ! LOL. Worked on many Merc BBC EFI/MPI, but I guess not enough Merc SBC EFI/MPI.

I must have made an ASS U ME. LOL.

Anyway, if one can post that wiring diagram, it may help, as it shows many things worth checking. That's for sure.

+1 on the lanyard, didn't some one have this issue last year and jump around it on the ignition switch to test?

That's why I preach like a SOB up here about engine serial #'s I can careless what year the hull is.

Now boat owners can see why you need your engine serial #'s and report if your app is stock and a stock tune or not. You can't fix it nor get the correct help if no one knows exactly what they are dealing with nor order the correct parts for it. Point made enough on this one by me.

the voyager ext coil HEI setup. is there a stand alone spark controller that can run it for a carb set-up, or could it be adapted to a thunderbolt-IV?

The stock module has a great advance curve in it. You can run it as is for Carb. The advance is only 22* - so it's great for many performance engine's.

Okay, checked my notes, here's the advance curve in the module for the Voyager / GM EST.
Note: since the advance starts so early (700rpm) make sure to set by the total as idle rpm may already have advance started.

RPM = Advance
700 = 11°
750 = 12.5°
800 = 13°
1000 = 15°
1250 = 16°
1500 = 16.5°
1750 = 17.5°
2000 = 18.5°
2250 = 19.5°
2500 = 20.5°
2750 = 21.5°
2800 = 22°
3000+ = 22°

Thanks for so much for all the input. Lanyard checked out. I will get pictures and post. I bought a camera snake this evening to try to get to get the serial number.

what year is your app and do you have a boat title or a non neg title ? Most states with boat tiltles list the engine and outdrive serial #'s right on the title or paperwork. Do you have a service records a lot of times engine serial # is listed on the service records .

If your boat is around 1999 to very early 2001 the parts list for the V-8 would be correct - unless your engine and ignition has been changed out to older or newer engine app.