1995 Pro Ski with TBI - Electronic (No spark) issue ???

[pbarwick]

OK - I put in a new alternator and since things have gone from bad to worse. The alternator is the standard replacement from skidim. Link - http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RA097006

The engine was missing on startup, after she started she was running fine. I thought nothing of it, but each start afterwards she still missed sparking, but eventually started and ran fine. That was until we were skiing in the middle of the lake and she toasts on me.
She won't start now, she never gets a spark. This miss on startup didn't exist before new alternator.

Ideas? It also might be heat related, she was overheating a few times until I cleaned out impeller inflow housing, it was full of an impeller I shredded earlier this year.

I appreciate all suggestions. The local nautique dealer (Excel Watersports - Lannon, WI) doesn't know the TBI engines very well and has suggested the conversion kit. I don't have the money right now and am hoping on a "Do it yourself fix".

Thanks again.
Patrick

[coloradonautique]

RE: 1995 Pro Ski with TBI - Electronic (No spark) issue ???

Patrick,
I see no reason to force you to a conversion for a spark problem. You should be able to figure this out or find a mechanic that can. Very strange that the problem started with the new alternator.

Obviously go through the normal steps:

Verify your battery is good and can accept and hold a charge. (I wouldn't expect the battery to be able to turn the starter and then not power the ignition/spark, but who knows.)

Start checking connections from the battery and alternator back to the ignition.

Definitely recheck your alternator connections versus your old setup.

Is this a protec ignition or distributor? Check the connections to whichever you have.
Check the ignition coil and resistor (I think your model year has one). IIRC the external resistor is supposed to limit the heat produced in the primary winding of the coil, if this is faulty, I would expect poor or no spark performance.

Check your ignition switch connections for loose screws. Verify you have +12v at one terminal in the ON position and then a momentary +12v at the other terminal when you turn it to START. Verify the +12V at the "ON" terminal remains live when in the START position.

Post more details as you get them.

[pbarwick]

RE: 1995 Pro Ski with TBI - Electronic (No spark) issue ???

Thanks for your help ColoradoNautique. I fixed issue permanently, I swapped engine with a barely used 2002 GT-40.

[brichart]

I just spent $1000 today on the kit replacement for my injectors with the new wire harness and adaptor. The parts were $650 and labor, including an oil change and cylinder clean out for any fuel that leaked past the rings.

In this process I learned that if you have the block distributer instead of the rotor and cap system you may have a bad distributer block, apparently fairly common in the '95. So you may need to check for spark from the distributer. The block sits on the back of the engine toward the top. It's rectangular and has your plug wires coming from it.

Hope that's not it through, it's an expensive part. Interestingly, PCM is hoarding them, because the part isn't made any longer and there are only a few left.

[bobchris]

I just spent $1000 today on the kit replacement for my injectors with the new wire harness and adaptor. The parts were $650 and labor, including an oil change and cylinder clean out for any fuel that leaked past the rings.

In this process I learned that if you have the block distributer instead of the rotor and cap system you may have a bad distributer block, apparently fairly common in the '95. So you may need to check for spark from the distributer. The block sits on the back of the engine toward the top. It's rectangular and has your plug wires coming from it.

Hope that's not it through, it's an expensive part. Interestingly, PCM is hoarding them, because the part isn't made any longer and there are only a few left.

boy you need a little help wth your terms.

There is no thing as a block distributor it is called the pro-tech ignition system as it is a distributorless system and a piece of junk that is discontinued. Don't know why you would be upgrading the induction system as there isn't a kit or a need to change all the injectors, wiring harness or an adpater.

Now if your talking about the upgrade to replace the pro-tech system but then there are no injectors in any brand, type, or make of any produced ignition systems.

and it beats the **** out of me why you guys are dicking around with the electrical system for a mis-firing engine, the ignition and timing are the only things that can cause a mis-fire

oh and for the dumb ones that are going to say a lean fuel condition can cause a mis-fire well your wrong it's call a back fire completely different monster.

[DavidF]

First of all, Patrick, where is your old engine? IF you have it, I might be willing to purchase all the protech, TBI ECU gear at a reasonable price.

Chris: The Protec setup utilizes a "distributor" only as a trigger and Crank Position sensor.