Today I installed the Pertronix electronic ignition module that I purchased from Moyer marine. All went fine with the installation and my trusty late model atomic four started right up. After a few minutes, I turned off the engine after noticing that the tach was not working - I forgot to attach the tach wire to the coil. I reattached the tack wire to the negative terminal of the coil, and went back to restart the engine and nothing happened - not even a click of the solenoid. A purple wire (catalina 30, 1982) that runs from the ignition switch to the coil became hot and started to smoke. I checked all connections to the started solenoid, switch, and coil to no avail. Not even clicking when I turn the key. I left the boat for a few hours, came back and turned the key briefly, and to my surprise it turned over. Another turn of the key and nothing again.
I took a short piece of wire and jumped the two wires that lead to the solenoid, at the switch, and it turned over. Thinking now that the switch was bad, replaced it, and there was no difference - no click with the key and it would turn the starter with the jumper wire at the switch.
I took out the electronic module and reinstalled the points and condenser. It still would not turn over - not even a click. I can't figure out how the starting circuit and the coil/points or coil/igniter circuit are related in a way that replacing one would prevent the starter from turning over.
Some questions: where does one find a ballast resister - I don't know if I have one or not. Assumed that I did not since I did not find it near the coil.
Would a mismatched coil - 2.0 ohms across the + and - terminal, cause this.
Would a burned out coil prevent the starter from engaging?
Batteries are strong and the boat ran like a champ before today.
Thanks for your help.
Jim Zeller
1981 Catalina 30 TRBS
I took a short piece of wire and jumped the two wires that lead to the solenoid, at the switch, and it turned over. Thinking now that the switch was bad, replaced it, and there was no difference - no click with the key and it would turn the starter with the jumper wire at the switch.
I took out the electronic module and reinstalled the points and condenser. It still would not turn over - not even a click. I can't figure out how the starting circuit and the coil/points or coil/igniter circuit are related in a way that replacing one would prevent the starter from turning over.
Some questions: where does one find a ballast resister - I don't know if I have one or not. Assumed that I did not since I did not find it near the coil.
Would a mismatched coil - 2.0 ohms across the + and - terminal, cause this.
Would a burned out coil prevent the starter from engaging?
Batteries are strong and the boat ran like a champ before today.
Thanks for your help.
Jim Zeller
1981 Catalina 30 TRBS
Comment