1988 Express Cruiser 340. Port engine just quit and won’t start

Nauti1

Nauti1

Member
Aug 21, 2013
39
Wyandotte Michigan
Boat Info
1986 Sundancer 268 (sold)
Engines
Mercruiser 260,alpha1
Hi all. Was under way yesterday and the port engine just dies. Fired back up several times now it just won’t do anything. It’ll crank over good, just nothing. Checked the gas, it’s good and get into the carb. Swapped coils from starboard to port, nothing. Port coil runs the SB engine. Swapped Thunderbolt boxes, nothing. Port Thunderbolt box runs the SB engine. Got 13 volts to both terminals on coil, no spark coming out of the coil wire. Both coils are good as they both run the SB engine. Ignition terminals in the fuse box have power, the terminals at the key switch have power as does the ign breaker. Has 12v at the terminals on the coil while cranking it, just no spark coming out of the coil wire. Even swapped those out too. I’m stumped. Anything else to look for?
 
Not sure if applicable to your system
Thunderbolt Diagnostics.jpg
 
So as I read this I want to be sure I'm clear. Coil is good but no spark once it is on the port motor?

Have you checked the pickups and rotor?
 
dwna1a said:
So as I read this I want to be sure I'm clear. Coil is good but no spark once it is on the port motor?

Have you checked the pickups and rotor?
Click to expand...
Looking at the previous post, I have not checked the pick ups and the rotor. The test procedure indicated above leads me to believe that’s the next thing I’ll be doing.
 
I had the pick up in the distributor fail on mine. Tapping the white/green wire to ground with key on consistently fired the coil. Hopefully simple for you too. The module isn't cheap. Was going to replace the whole distributor if it was bad.
 
Thornton69 said:
I had the pick up in the distributor fail on mine. Tapping the white/green wire to ground with key on consistently fired the coil. Hopefully simple for you too. The module isn't cheap. Was going to replace the whole distributor if it was bad.
Click to expand...
Well, I swapped the port and starboard ign module, nothing, the one on the port motor is now on the starboard motor and is running.
 
Nauti1 said:
Well, I swapped the port and starboard ign module, nothing, the one on the port motor is now on the starboard motor and is running.
Click to expand...
The pick up in the distributor can go bad. If original the two wires corrode under the pick up. You can swap them easily.
 
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