1997 ski nautique firing sequence and drive problems

[NicksNautique's]

Hey there!! Need some help, i'm based in Ireland and we have no PCM mechanics etc etc for miles!!

Have a 1997 ski with 5.8 protec, have a couple of problems with the boat.
I cant seem to get the boat to idle less than 1000rpm it just cuts out and seems to smother. I have tried to adjust the throttle and breather on the carb to no avail.

Also when running it runs fine but with the odd misfire? I have renewed the cap, rotor, plugs and leads??? I have checked the firing sequence on the block and ran it round the cap. The sequence starts with 1 which when at TDC is the point before the 12 position on the cap moving back from 12. The rotor arm is directly pointing at this point.

The boat itself seems to rev fine but there is no speed or acceleration beyond say 15mph. Almost as if the shaft isnt getting the power to turn. I checked the trans oil and it was like strawberry milkshake tonite!!

These may be real basic questions but please help. I have trawled the forum to try and find answers and cant find what i'm looking for. If you have links please post them, i dont want to waste anyones time!!

Thanks.

[2gofaster]

RE: 1997 ski nautique firing sequence and drive problems

The 5.8 firing order is 13726548. Do you have a timing light to check the timing?

[DavidF]

RE: 1997 ski nautique firing sequence and drive problems

Change the tranny oil ASAP...there is water mixed with the oil. Seems to me that you may need a carb rebuild as it seems the engine is flooding out while trying to idle. If the firing order was wrong, I would suspect you would be getting popping/backfires through the carb which can damage the rubber check vavle in the accelerator pump (I think I have that right).

Finally, sputtering and no power could also indicate a bad coil pack (one of the two). PCM will make you switch to conventional ignition system rather than sell a coil pack to you. PCM will only sell the coil packs to TBI engine owners.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: 1997 ski nautique firing sequence and drive problems

If the firing order was wrong, I would suspect you would be getting popping/backfires through the carb which can damage the rubber check vavle in the accelerator pump (I think I have that right).

Finally, sputtering and no power could also indicate a bad coil pack (one of the two). PCM will make you switch to conventional ignition system rather than sell a coil pack to you. PCM will only sell the coil packs to TBI engine owners.

The wrong firing order will not always cause a backfire or pop. A backfire will sometimes damage the power valve, but I believe Holleys have had built in protection for the last 20 years or so.

Im still a little confused- I was sure that the last year for the Protec was 1994. 1997 should have a standard distributor if its a base carby motor.

[NicksNautique's]

Guys thats awesome, the engine i think is a 351, its ford based and that firing order matches what i have. The distributor is std yes, with an ignition coil mounted on top of the engine, i have replaced the dist cap and rotor arm with a tune up kit.

What about the internals ie points, condensor etc etc??

I have emptied the trans oil again and checked the level to see what happens when i put her back in the water, if the levels rise then i guess its a bad leak from the oil cooler right??

The timing light will be done when i fix the trans!! Hopefully.