need help troubleshooting trigger coil on 96 gsx

[jerrygena]

i'm not getting any voltage to the ign coil via white wire from cdi box, i've read the other post on no spark but cant find a test for voltage from the trigger coil? also i dont get any beeps when i put the lanyard key on the post? could this be the problem with no spark? anyone know how to test this? thanks in advance.

 

[Dr Honda]

your engine is completely different than the other "No Spark" thread right now.

Your trigger coil has a simple resistance test. IF... you put a volt meter on it, and crank the engine... you will see a small pulse of power as the magnets go past. BUT... on the 800 engine, there is a known issue where the trigger coil breaks from it's mount.

You won't have any voltage on the white wire, until the CDI is ready to fire the plugs.

First... let's talk about your buzzer. Most of the older skis... the buzzer goes bad. (it needs fixed) but... when you put your lanyard on, does the gauges turn on, and can you crank the ski?

 

[jerrygena]

I know its hard to troubleshoot over the net. i read in the manual the gauges should work for 20 sec. with lanyard off when you hit the start button but i see nothing when i do this. i see two red light on the gauges when i put the lanyard on, then one goes out, the engine cranks, most of the time, i think the solenoid is not working everytime as sometimes the starter motor turns slowly, low voltage out of the solenoid, when this happens but i keep trying and it finally works correct but no spark. I did get ohms (240 something) on the trigger, but no voltage out of the cdi box via white wire to coil? this ski sat for a few years, the guy that sold it to me said it only needed a coil, the one in it had a crack like it overheated or something, so far i put a coil, new top end as one piston was fried,thanks tony. you seem to help alot of people on here, i've read many of your post. So if my trigger is ohming correct and the mount is fine, where should i look next, cdi? i'm gonna do the tests(ohms) on the cdi and mpem as prescribed in the manual. thanks again

 

[Dr Honda]

OK... this is going to sound strange... but before you try to fix the ignition... I need to you fix the buzzer. On your ski, the ignition is digital... and you can put the MPEM into advanced diagnostics, and it will tell you if the MPEM is "Talking" to the CDI or not.

Since there may be multiple issues... I would like to start there. (you can get a $9 buzzer from Radio Shack to replace it)

BUT... I would also like you to remove the MAG cover from the engine to see is the trigger coil broke from it's mount. (Common issue) It is not very common for the ignition coil to go bad)

 

[jerrygena]

tony, pulled the mag cover and the trigger coil is fine, I then opened the front box, did the ohm tests on both the cdi and mpem, some readings were in spec and others were not, but my meters battery died so i need to do them again. pluged everything back in, the buzzer is working, two beeps when lanyard installed, the guage's still only light the low fuel and the water temp light on the speedo and it goes out after a few seconds, also the mode and set buttons do nothing. I sill no power to the coil via white wire from cdi??? I did check the trigger coil again and got the same 240 something ohms so i am figureing the trigger is good so what does that leave? cdi??? Looking at the wire diagram, i think the coil gets its power from the cdi when the trigger wire sends signal pulse's to the cdi. must be a bad cdi, maybe due to rev limiter but no way to check it? thanks

 

[jerrygena]

well after checking for power to the cdi and mpem which they both are getting power, now the buzzer quit working again, must be a bad connection in the rear box? Also i read in manual that the rev limiter can keep it from sparking but the manual only says how to test it if its working, so if it can keep it from sparking, how do you test it and i think the manual says its in the cdi. I'm really thinking its the cdi box. I really needed to take this ski to ny this weekend but its not looking good.....

 

[Dr Honda]

The rev limiter is built into the CDI, and you can't test it directly. Also... you will only see power on the white wire when it's getting ready to fire.

The buzzer needs to work. It's not a loose wire... it's a bad buzzer. Buy a new one, and install it. But... if you get 2 beeps with the lanyard... then the MPEM thinks the CDI is working.

With everything said... I'm thinking your CDI has gone bad.

 

[jerrygena]

Thanks again Tony, i'm going to buy one off ebay hopefully today, i will post if it fixes the ski. I will also take the front box out again and redo the ohm tests on the cdi and me boxs, if any of the test are out of spec, can i know the part is bad? Jerry

 

[Dr Honda]

The CDI is digital... and that makes it hard to troubleshoot with out dealer equipment.

OK... the 800 uses a DC (Current) CDI unit. Inside of it, there is a "Cascade" circuit and that pumps the 12v from the battery, up to the 150v range. That part of the CDI is known to give up, but the rest of it will continue to work... so the MPEM thinks it's OK.

The cascade circuit is what charges the capacitors, and fires the coil.

 

[jerrygena]

Tony, that info helps me understand more how these systems work, so do all 787 use this same ignition system no matter what model? I got bought a used cdi off the bay for $164, will be a good deal if it works and is not defective like mine must be. So again, if i do all the ohm test on the mepm and if any test out of spec, does it mean its a bad unit too??? This is my first ski, bought it used and its needed more work than expected. The carbs have had the choke butterflies and linkage removed so i'll just have to hand choke it and what about the primer pump, does it need to be used every time to start the ski? and then there is the guage's, i need to get them working or are they really not needed? thanks again, jerry