Outboard Ignition Troubleshooting – Page 35 – Johnson Evinrude Quick Start CD Ignitions
This page covers Johnson / Evinrude six and eight cylinder Quick Start models, including no-fire, one-cylinder misfire, one-bank misfire, stator checks, timer base checks, and S.L.O.W. diagnosis.
Six and Eight Cylinder Engines
(Quick Start Models)
(Quick Start Models)
Important: These engines usually have a 35 amp charging system. Because of the size and weight of the flywheel magnets, it is highly recommended that you verify the magnets are still tight in the flywheel before servicing the engine. A loose or broken magnet can be extremely costly and dangerous.
No Fire at All
- Disconnect the black/yellow kill wires at the pack and retest. If the engine now has fire, the kill circuit has a fault, possibly the key switch, harness, or shift switch.
- Disconnect the yellow wires from the stator to the rectifier and retest. If the engine fires, replace the rectifier.
- Check stator resistance. You should read approximately 1000 ohms from the brown wire to the brown/yellow wires and 100 ohms from the orange to orange/black.
- Check the DVA output from the stator. You should have at least 150V or more from the brown wire to the brown/yellow wire on each bank while connected to the pack, and at least 12V or more from the orange to orange/black.
- Check the timer base resistance from the white wire to the blue, green, and purple wires. Readings should be approximately the same on all, typically 1 to 2 megohms. If the readings are off, reverse the meter leads and retest to see if the readings straighten out.
- Check the DVA output from the timer base. A reading of at least 0.5V or more from the white wire to the blue, green, and purple wires while connected to the pack is needed to fire the pack.
- Check cranking RPM. A cranking speed less than 250 RPM will not allow the system to fire properly.
No Fire or Intermittent on One Cylinder
- Check the timer base resistance from the white wire to the blue, green, and purple wires. Readings should be approximately the same on all, typically 1 to 2 megohms. If the readings are off, reverse the meter leads and retest to see if the readings straighten out.
- Check the DVA output from the timer base. A reading of at least 0.5V or more from the white wire to the blue, green, and purple wires while connected to the pack is needed to fire the pack.
- Check the DVA output on the orange wires from the power pack while connected to the ignition coils. You should have at least 150V or more. If the reading is low on one cylinder, disconnect the orange wire from the ignition coil for that cylinder and reconnect it to a load resistor. Retest. If the reading is now good, the ignition coil is likely bad. A continued low reading indicates a bad power pack.
No Fire or Intermittent on One Bank
- Check the stator resistance. You should read approximately 1000 ohms from the brown wire to the brown/yellow wires and 100 ohms from the orange to orange/black.
- Check the DVA output from the stator. You should have at least 150V or more from the brown wire to the brown/yellow wire on each bank while connected to the pack.
- Check the DVA output on the orange wires from the power pack while connected to the ignition coils. You should have at least 150V or more. If the reading is low on one bank, disconnect the orange wires from the ignition coils for that bank and reconnect them to load resistors. Retest. If the reading is now good, one or both ignition coils are likely bad. A continued low reading indicates a bad power pack.
Engines with S.L.O.W.
Engine Will Not Rev Beyond 2500 RPM
- Use a temperature probe and verify that the engine is not overheating.
- Disconnect the tan temperature wire from the pack and retest. If the engine now performs properly, replace the temperature switch.
- Make sure the tan temperature switch wire is not located next to a spark plug wire.