350 MAG MPI - Weak/Intermittent Spark
#1
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,088
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From: King george, Virginia/Potomac River
MCM 350 MAG MPI
S/N 1A043677
This is my brother's Sea Ray bow rider he bought late last year. He test drove it, had it winterized and then had a gps installed last month. He uncovered it to launch last weekend and no start. I checked it out yesterday and when cranking it sounds like one or two cylinders are firing, but only when I opened the throttle up. I was originally thinking the plugs were drowned with fogging fluid because it sounded flooded. I pulled a few plugs out, they were moist with gas, but not to the point of not firing. When I checked for spark at the plug end, I get maybe one blue spark, a few yellow sparks and then no spark. When I check it at the coil wire, I get solid yellow sparks that begin to weaken. I stop cranking and crank again, no spark. Looks like classic coil failure. I happen to have a complete 99 Suburban 350 on a dolly in the garage that ran fine when pulled. So I plugged in the coil & module (and grounded it to engine). No difference. Swapped the coil wire, crank sensor and the cam sensor from the truck motor, same symptoms. I checked the pink wire on the coil and the module, they both have battery voltage- key on (12.5v) and while cranking (10.2v was lowest I saw). I checked the grey wire on crank sensor and it has 5v, but I didn't check during cranking. It's possible the truck motor's ignition parts are bad (or went bad when I plugged them in), but like I said, exact same symptoms. I followed the new gps wiring and can't see where that has anything to do with it.
Today, thinking about it more, maybe I have a engine ground or sensor ground problem? Anyone experience anything like this? Thoughts?
Edit, I also checked the shift interrupt switch with ohm meter, it is working properly.
S/N 1A043677
This is my brother's Sea Ray bow rider he bought late last year. He test drove it, had it winterized and then had a gps installed last month. He uncovered it to launch last weekend and no start. I checked it out yesterday and when cranking it sounds like one or two cylinders are firing, but only when I opened the throttle up. I was originally thinking the plugs were drowned with fogging fluid because it sounded flooded. I pulled a few plugs out, they were moist with gas, but not to the point of not firing. When I checked for spark at the plug end, I get maybe one blue spark, a few yellow sparks and then no spark. When I check it at the coil wire, I get solid yellow sparks that begin to weaken. I stop cranking and crank again, no spark. Looks like classic coil failure. I happen to have a complete 99 Suburban 350 on a dolly in the garage that ran fine when pulled. So I plugged in the coil & module (and grounded it to engine). No difference. Swapped the coil wire, crank sensor and the cam sensor from the truck motor, same symptoms. I checked the pink wire on the coil and the module, they both have battery voltage- key on (12.5v) and while cranking (10.2v was lowest I saw). I checked the grey wire on crank sensor and it has 5v, but I didn't check during cranking. It's possible the truck motor's ignition parts are bad (or went bad when I plugged them in), but like I said, exact same symptoms. I followed the new gps wiring and can't see where that has anything to do with it.
Today, thinking about it more, maybe I have a engine ground or sensor ground problem? Anyone experience anything like this? Thoughts?
Edit, I also checked the shift interrupt switch with ohm meter, it is working properly.
Last edited by Shah Mat; 05-02-2024 at 09:07 AM.
#2
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Registered

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,088
Likes: 161
From: King george, Virginia/Potomac River
I'm an idiot. A metal stud on a plastic intake is not a good spot to check for spark. I was frustrated because it was late and I was working on my boat when I stopped to look at his and was rushing through things.
Anyway, i found a better place for testing spark, it it was good to the plug end of the wires. I had only pulled one plug yesterday, so I pulled out the others and they were pretty gas fouled. Replaced them and it fired right up.
Anyway, i found a better place for testing spark, it it was good to the plug end of the wires. I had only pulled one plug yesterday, so I pulled out the others and they were pretty gas fouled. Replaced them and it fired right up.





