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Thread: Help Me!

  1. #1
    orange peel
    I have a 454BBC with all MSD dist,box,coil. My boat was running fine when i parked it this winter but i have been out 5 or 6 times this year and i am on battery #3 and its dead? the only thing that seems wrong is the dist makes a funny noise when the switch is on (but engine not running) when i shake the wires coming out of the dist. plus the RPM gauge seems off to me? I have no ideal what is wrong?? The whole thing started when the boat wouldnt start after running a little or alot but would start no problem the first time. like the timming was off :cry:

  2. #2
    emjay
    A couple questions:
    Do the batteries "die" slowly (lose their cranking ability)
    or abruptly, without warning?
    When you say "won't start after running..." Does it just crank
    and not start or is there insufficient battery power to turn the motor?
    Do you run a voltmeter or ammeter to verify the alternator
    is charging while running and that the battery is getting 12-14 volts?
    Isn't there a way to "bypass" the MSD box with little jumper wires to test?
    Pop the cap off the distributor & "shake" the wires CAREFULLY and isolate
    where the "funny noise" is coming from. Could be a loose wire inside somewhere.

  3. #3
    orange peel
    A couple questions:
    Do the batteries "die" slowly (lose their cranking ability)
    or abruptly, without warning?
    When you say "won't start after running..." Does it just crank
    and not start or is there insufficient battery power to turn the motor?
    Do you run a voltmeter or ammeter to verify the alternator
    is charging while running and that the battery is getting 12-14 volts?
    Isn't there a way to "bypass" the MSD box with little jumper wires to test?
    Pop the cap off the distributor & "shake" the wires CAREFULLY and isolate
    where the "funny noise" is coming from. Could be a loose wire inside somewhere.
    after running the engine wont turn over like the engine is tight, sometimes it will start but only if it gets a full turn.volt meter seems fine when running,when i take the cap off no noise coil not giving dist fire.maybe my starter but dont explain the noise in the dist.

  4. #4
    emjay
    Is your battery ground wire a thick heavy gauge?
    A "cheap" ground wire or loose ground wire will
    allow a cold motor to turn, but when the motor
    heats up, there is more compression & resistance.
    Also when a battery has to use ALL of the available
    cranking amps and STILL can't turn the motor, that'll
    ruin a new battery in no time at all.
    After you try to crank it, feel the ground cable
    at the battery neg. terminal. If it is very hot
    you'll need more ground wire. (before troubleshooting elsewhere)
    Next I'd replace starter & solenoid if they're several years old.
    On my 11-1 motor, I run a 2 gauge solid copper wire
    from the battery neg. directly to the block.
    As for the noise in the distributor, that could be a separate issue
    since the battery & starter should be cranking the motor, not seizing
    against the compression.
    Hope this helps.

  5. #5
    orange peel
    Is your battery ground wire a thick heavy gauge?
    A "cheap" ground wire or loose ground wire will
    allow a cold motor to turn, but when the motor
    heats up, there is more compression & resistance.
    Also when a battery has to use ALL of the available
    cranking amps and STILL can't turn the motor, that'll
    ruin a new battery in no time at all.
    After you try to crank it, feel the ground cable
    at the battery neg. terminal. If it is very hot
    you'll need more ground wire. (before troubleshooting elsewhere)
    Next I'd replace starter & solenoid if they're several years old.
    On my 11-1 motor, I run a 2 gauge solid copper wire
    from the battery neg. directly to the block.
    As for the noise in the distributor, that could be a separate issue
    since the battery & starter should be cranking the motor, not seizing
    against the compression.
    Hope this helps.
    well i had a grond problem but fixed it now i have a new battery. i had the stater rebuilt last year but you never know.well as far as the dist goes the tac seems off thats why im thinking that but i didnt know if the dist is pulling the charge out of the battery, the not starting when the engine gets warm makes me think about the timming? i have a blower motor in a blazer and it has a timming box that i can advance the timming when she gets to hot and it turns the engine over alot easyer. but the two may not relate?i guess ill start with the starter?and go from there

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