Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by ndimascio on 08/26/20 - 10:27 AM

Hi all. I recently picked up a 1987 13 Sport. I bought it knowing the engine wasn't running, so pretty much just paid for the hull. I now have the engine running, but am hoping for some help with troubleshooting. The engine is a Suzuki DT 30C. The engine is a 1996 and serial number is 03003-751215. This is my first real time troubleshooting anything like this so looking for advise as this is outside of my wheelhouse.

The engine is getting a spark to cylinders 1 and 3, but cylinder 2 is not getting a spark. I checked the ignition coils, spark plug, and compression on cylinder 2 and all are fine. Ignition coils and plugs were also switch out with the ones from cylinder 1 and still no spark so those do not seem to be the issue. I also cleaned up all of the connectors and they look ok, No obvious signs of corrosion.

I tested the peak voltage coming from the CDI to the coils, and cylinder 2 is getting low voltage. Cylinder's 1 and 3 both get around 160 peak volts (manual calls for over 105), but cylinder 2 is only showing 30-40 volts.

Based on this, I replaced the CDI unit, and am now getting 160 peak volts across all three cylinders, but still no spark on cylinder 2.

Thoughts on what the issue could be?

Edited by ndimascio on 08/26/20 - 10:27 AM

Posted by biggiefl on 08/26/20 - 10:45 AM

Try switching the ignition coils again. You will probably see your #2 coil is bad. Did you check spark on #2 with a meter or just through the plug? Bad plug?(doubtful but worth a shot). If not a coil it comes down to stator or trigger but I think coil.

Posted by ndimascio on 08/26/20 - 11:21 AM

biggiefl wrote:
Try switching the ignition coils again. You will probably see your #2 coil is bad. Did you check spark on #2 with a meter or just through the plug? Bad plug?(doubtful but worth a shot). If not a coil it comes down to stator or trigger but I think coil.

Thanks- I tried switching the coils around again and still no spark on #2, but #1 still worked so I'm still thinking the coils are good. I checked the spark on #2 both through the plug and with an in-line tester. I also tried a new spark plug so plug is not the issue.

I will check out the startor and/or trigger next.

Posted by rcbrownjr on 08/26/20 - 12:44 PM

Echo what biggiefl suggested, try swapping the plug wires and check the plug wire continuity. I had a cylinder lose spark on an older Johnson 70 while I was pulling the kids tubing this summer. The local shop said it would be a couple of weeks before they could take a look at it, so I starting working my way back from the plugs to the stator with a multimeter. I only got to plug wire #3 when the multimeter showed no continuity. $11 for a new plug wire and we were back in business.