Weak Spark on one side of coil?

slimmyt · 07-03-2009, 05:36 PM

Hello Everyone. I have a problem with my cart I am having a hard time figuring out. It is a 01 ezgo 4 cycle. It ran great after an engine rebuild for several months and then all of a sudden it started running very sluggishly(to the point of barely trying to move) and backfires through the carb and exhaust. I have read posts until my eyes are crossed and can't figure it out without changing alot of expensive parts. I installed a new carb/fuel pump and still doing the same thing. I think I have found out that it is running on one cylinder. It runs on which ever cylinder the plug wire towards the front of the engine is attached to. It isn't the plug wires because I have switched them around also. Basically, the rear half of the coil has spark, but makes no difference on either cylinder and it is running on the front half of the coil only. I have adjusted the valves and the pressure on both cylinders is around 170 psi. Does that make sense to anyone? Has anyone seen this problem?slimmyt

tonyton · 07-03-2009, 06:00 PM

Hi slimmyt, and welcome ot BGW.
I've never heard of half a coil going bad, but that sounds like the problem. There are a lot of used coils around....I've got two of them.
See what some others think and we'll go from there. Something I don't know about may be the cause for the coil problem......The sponsors can always get a new one.

slimmyt · 07-03-2009, 08:21 PM

What is the purpose of the igniter? Would it have anything to do with the problem?

tonyton · 07-03-2009, 08:35 PM

I believe that would be the brain of the ignition. I know it limits rpm to keep you from cooking an engine. It probably provides the advance it needs as rpm increases. I don't know for sure, so don't quote that.
The coil operates from two wires..I can't picture the igniter cooking half a coil. If they (igniters) don't work the cart usually does not run. It only takes a loose wire for a coil to be bad.

tonyton · 07-03-2009, 08:48 PM

There's only 3 components to the ignition. A pulser coil. That sends the signal from the crankshaft to indicate degrees BTDC. If it's bad, it will not run. The igniter processes that signal and sends a current to the coil. If it's bad they don't run....Then that leaves the ignition coil. That is the most commonly failed part that I have heard of.
Where's everyone? Gone for the holiday?

pizzamaker · 07-03-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyton

There's only 3 components to the ignition. A pulser coil. That sends the signal from the crankshaft to indicate degrees BTDC. If it's bad, it will not run. The igniter processes that signal and sends a current to the coil. If it's bad they don't run....Then that leaves the ignition coil. That is the most commonly failed part that I have heard of.
Where's everyone? Gone for the holiday?

you got it

the coil is my bet! the pulser and ignitor ether work or don't and would not affect one side of a coil.

slimmyt · 07-03-2009, 10:50 PM

Thank you guys for your input! I may be needing to buy one of those coils you have or I wouldn't mind spending the 60-75 bucks for a new one if I were confident that was the problem.

dirtysouth · 07-03-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyton

There's only 3 components to the ignition. A pulser coil. That sends the signal from the crankshaft to indicate degrees BTDC. If it's bad, it will not run. The igniter processes that signal and sends a current to the coil. If it's bad they don't run....Then that leaves the ignition coil. That is the most commonly failed part that I have heard of.
Where's everyone? Gone for the holiday?

Looks like a skeleton crew this weekend.

slimmyt · 07-06-2009, 06:58 AM

How much for a good used coil?

ruredy · 07-06-2009, 08:25 AM

I have one i'd sell for $45 but maybe someone has one they don't need and would sell it to you less. I know I'll end up needing one and I only have one spare.

07-03-2009, 05:36 PM	#1
slimmyt Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7	Weak Spark on one side of coil? Hello Everyone. I have a problem with my cart I am having a hard time figuring out. It is a 01 ezgo 4 cycle. It ran great after an engine rebuild for several months and then all of a sudden it started running very sluggishly(to the point of barely trying to move) and backfires through the carb and exhaust. I have read posts until my eyes are crossed and can't figure it out without changing alot of expensive parts. I installed a new carb/fuel pump and still doing the same thing. I think I have found out that it is running on one cylinder. It runs on which ever cylinder the plug wire towards the front of the engine is attached to. It isn't the plug wires because I have switched them around also. Basically, the rear half of the coil has spark, but makes no difference on either cylinder and it is running on the front half of the coil only. I have adjusted the valves and the pressure on both cylinders is around 170 psi. Does that make sense to anyone? Has anyone seen this problem?slimmyt

07-03-2009, 06:00 PM	#2
tonyton Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,120	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? Hi slimmyt, and welcome ot BGW. I've never heard of half a coil going bad, but that sounds like the problem. There are a lot of used coils around....I've got two of them. See what some others think and we'll go from there. Something I don't know about may be the cause for the coil problem......The sponsors can always get a new one.

07-03-2009, 08:21 PM	#3
slimmyt Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? What is the purpose of the igniter? Would it have anything to do with the problem?

07-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#4
tonyton Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,120	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? I believe that would be the brain of the ignition. I know it limits rpm to keep you from cooking an engine. It probably provides the advance it needs as rpm increases. I don't know for sure, so don't quote that. The coil operates from two wires..I can't picture the igniter cooking half a coil. If they (igniters) don't work the cart usually does not run. It only takes a loose wire for a coil to be bad.

07-03-2009, 08:48 PM	#5
tonyton Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,120	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? There's only 3 components to the ignition. A pulser coil. That sends the signal from the crankshaft to indicate degrees BTDC. If it's bad, it will not run. The igniter processes that signal and sends a current to the coil. If it's bad they don't run....Then that leaves the ignition coil. That is the most commonly failed part that I have heard of. Where's everyone? Gone for the holiday?

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07-03-2009, 10:50 PM	#7
slimmyt Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? Thank you guys for your input! I may be needing to buy one of those coils you have or I wouldn't mind spending the 60-75 bucks for a new one if I were confident that was the problem.

07-06-2009, 06:58 AM	#9
slimmyt Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? How much for a good used coil?

07-06-2009, 08:25 AM	#10
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Weak Spark on one side of coil? I have one i'd sell for $45 but maybe someone has one they don't need and would sell it to you less. I know I'll end up needing one and I only have one spare.

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