www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 1994 FW Horizon 180 with a 5.0L V8 cobra (Ford 302) Model #: 502ACPMDA.

I am having an issue where as soon as the boat warms up and reaches opperating temperature (150F) then engine dies. When you drive along it dies itfeels like someone just turned off the key. If you try to restart it right away it feels like the battery is dead (slow churing of the starter). Give it 1min to cool and it fires right up like no problem. The gage shows the alternator functioning properly and charging the battery.

While the boat is cool there are no issues. There is plenty of power out of the hole, I can reach WOT without any issues and the engine sounds like it is running at tip top shape. I don't get any smoke at start up or during use....and nothing when the engine dies.

Brief history: Bought the boat from the orginal owner 3 years ago. First season we had no issues. End of last season and the begining of this year we had a hestitation issue. We started with what was easiest to change, wire and distributor cap. Both seemed like they had seen better days and needed to be changed. After those were changed the hesitation issue remainded. I then bit the bullet and changed all the spark plugs. That is no easy feat on that boat. During the spark plug change I found 1 plug that was "wet" from unburnt gas. It was the 3rd plug I changed so without changing the other 5 I started and ran the boat and that resolved the issue (no more hesitation). I then finished the job and replaced the other 5 plugs.

This dieing problem is new since changing the plugs and distributor cap but I don't think it is related. Since there are so many aftermarket distributor system out there now I am not even sure what I have. I think (from what I read) that in '94 they moved away from the traditional points and when to an electronic ingition system. Can someone see the attached photos and tell me what I have? I think the issue is the ignition module getting too much heat and cutting out.

Let me try to post the photos below. Can someone tell me what I have? I am supposed to have MFN PN# 3854077 but my setup doesn't look like the part diagrams online. Help?

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... 8ddeb8.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... d172fd.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... 1bd28c.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... 8240cd.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... 632fb0.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... 9fa56c.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u42 ... d3ac7c.jpg

My initial impression is that you have a bad coil. That is merely by experience-I once had a car that would die as soon as it got hot and would run great until then. Problem was that the coil would fail to operate once it also got hot.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Usually when an engine dies when getting hot then it is electrical...the coil is very common.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Electrical was my feeling too. I just didn't know if coil was more likely than ingintion module.

If I did go that route first (cheapest thing to replace at this point)...what PN? I seem to find a few "correct" PNs when I search on my engine MD

3852217
18-5437
0378231
898253T24

Can anyone tell from the photos if I have the stock ignition module? I looks like I don't.

Anyone else?

Sorry I can't help you out with your question on the parts, man. Good luck!

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

So in trying to diagnose the problem I finally got chance to work the boat. I first started to try to recreate the issue (the motor dieing) by running on the hose. The problem is pretty constistant on the water but I didn't know if I could get it to happen in my drive way. Well I ran the boat for 30 min and it never had a problem. As a note the temp never even got close to the operating temperature (maybe 140). Without the load of going through the water I couldn't nail that down as a source.

So I took out my Seloc manual and went to the Ignition and Electrical section for my boat. I started with the "Primary Voltage Test". Test first confirm 12-13V at the battery...which I have (12.8V). Then i connect the neg lead of the meter to the neg lead on the battery and the pos lead on the meter to the positive terminal on the ignition coil. I measured a voltage of around 10.6V...so I have a voltage drop issue.

I run the voltage drop testing and the result says I need to replace the battery ground cable. I pull it off the battery and the block and it definitely has corrosion at the battery side so this isn't a waste anyway. I replace the cable and I still get a lower voltage. It does not give me any other suggestions on what could be causing my voltage drop. I have a feeling it is the coil so I did the coil/module test and the test fails. It says to replace the coil (cheaper) and redo the test. If not the solution then change the module ($$$). Is there anything else that could be causing my voltage drop?

Remember, this seems to be related to operating temperature. I'd replace the coil since it's fairly cheap and since it heats up during operation (which can, by the way, cause it to open intermittently and then close again when it cools off). If that doesn't fix it, I don't think you have a problem with battery/cables/voltage drop.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

+1 - had same issue in my 85 ramcharger. Save yourself some time and replace it.

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2006 FW 203 FS
2005 Dodge Laramie 1500
2003 CRF 247F SuperMoto racer
2001 CBR1100XX

Coil is on order. I will replace it and put it back in the water for a real test to see if this fixes the issue.

The negative cable could be issue as well, but based on age, coil is suspect!

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2006 FW 203 FS
2005 Dodge Laramie 1500
2003 CRF 247F SuperMoto racer
2001 CBR1100XX

Got the coil yesterday. Now I just need to install it and put the boat back in the water to test it out.

Wish me luck.