Mercruiser 470 not getting power to Ignition Coil?

Question

I have a 1982/83 vintage Mercruiser 470 that is not getting any power to the Ignition Coil. I used a multimeter tester and found that no power is going to the coil. The last time the boat ran was when she was winterized in October 2007. What should I check to correct this problem of no power going to the Ignition Coil?

Thanks

Answer 1

Check the switch out mounted on the linkage to the carb, both of your shift cables mount on that linkage also. That switch is to short out the coil so that you can get the boat out of gear. If you ever noticed that when you shift out of gear that the engine actually stalls for a split second allowing you to get out of gear. with out it, it would take two hands to pull the shifter out of gear; then you would have so much pressure on the shift handle that it would miss neutral and just go in to the other gear. the other problem is that it is stuck closed killing your engine! Your problem!

Answer 2

There is a ballest resistor in the power lead line follow it back from the coil it's 3" long with wires on each end 12V in  9Vout thats where most of the problems are> Auto parts stock them>