Outboard Ignition Troubleshooting – Page 4 – Chrysler ADI Systems
This page continues Chrysler alternator driven ignition (ADI) troubleshooting and focuses on two, three, and four cylinder engines using separate switch boxes and ignition coils. These checks help isolate no spark, intermittent spark, high-speed miss, rectifier faults, and kill circuit problems.
Chrysler Capacitive Discharge Module with Alternator (ADI — Alternator Driven Ignition)
Two Cylinder Engines Using Separate Switch Boxes and Ignition Coils
- Disconnect the kill wires from the CD and connect a DC voltmeter between the kill wires and engine ground. Turn the ignition switch on and off several times. If voltage appears at any time, there is a problem in the harness or ignition switch. At NO TIME should battery voltage be present on a kill circuit.
- Check the flywheel for a broken or loose magnet.
- Check for broken wires and terminals, especially inside the plastic plug-in connectors.
- Visually inspect the stator for burned or discolored areas. If found, replace the stator. If the damage is on the battery charge windings, it indicates a possible rectifier problem.
No Fire on Either Cylinder
- Disconnect all kill wires at the pack.
- Check for broken or bare wires on the unit, stator, and trigger.
- Measure DVA voltage of the stator between the output wire sets. With everything connected, readings should be approximately 180 volts or more. Resistance readings between the stator wire sets should range from 680 to 800 ohms.
- Disconnect the rectifier. If the engine fires, replace the rectifier.
No Fire or Intermittent on One Cylinder
- Check stator resistance. You should read 680–800 ohms, with DVA 180V or more from blue to yellow. On some two cylinder engines, the stator has two blue wires and no yellow wire. In that case, the stator is tested from blue to blue. All stator wires should read open to engine ground.
- Check trigger resistance. Trigger wire sets should read approximately 50 ohms between the wire sets, DVA 5V or more, and open to engine ground.
- If readings are good, disconnect the kill wire from one pack. If the dead cylinder starts firing, the problem is likely the blocking diode in the other pack.
Engine Will Not Kill
- Check the kill circuit in the pack by using a jumper wire connected to the white kill wire coming out of the pack and shorting it to ground. If this kills all fire from the pack, the kill circuit in the harness or on the boat is bad, possibly the ignition switch.
Coils Only Fire with the Spark Plugs Out
- Check for a dragging starter or low battery causing slow cranking speed. DVA test the stator and trigger.
High Speed Miss
- Check stator DVA voltage to each pack at high speed. If it exceeds 400 volts, replace the pack.
- Disconnect the rectifier. If the engine fires smoothly, replace the rectifier.
Three and Four Cylinder Engines Using Separate Switch Boxes and Ignition Coils
- Check for broken wires and terminals, especially inside the plastic plug-in connectors. Remove the pins from the connectors and visually inspect them if necessary.
- Check the flywheel for a broken or loose magnet.
- Disconnect the kill wires from the CD and connect a DC voltmeter between the kill wires and engine ground. Turn the ignition switch on and off several times. If voltage appears at any time, there is a problem in the harness or ignition switch. At NO TIME should battery voltage be present on a kill circuit.
- Visually inspect the stator for burned or discolored areas. If found, replace the stator. If the damage is on the battery charge windings, it indicates a possible rectifier problem.
If No Fire on Any Cylinder
- Disconnect the kill wire at the pack.
- Check for broken or bare wires on the unit, stator, and trigger.
- Measure DVA voltage of the stator between the output wire sets. With everything connected, readings should be approximately 180 volts or more. Resistance readings between the stator wire sets should range from 680 to 800 ohms.
- Disconnect the rectifier. If the engine fires, replace the rectifier.