Help w/2001 Johnson 50 hp/won't start

[aldotkd]

Hi, I have a 2001 Johnson 50hp that recently died and we barely made it to land! It wouldn't crank w/key, no power to dash, lights and trim/tilt work.

I changed ignition switch, nothing, but did notice that one ground wire(blk/white)had a poor ground so I connected a wire to battery ground and the switch ground and the engine will turn over but there is no spark after testing.

SPent $75 for "marine mech" and he said it was the coil. SO I buy a new coil, no spark, then he says its the power pack, no spark! He would not return my calls later.

So I try to isolate the issue by disconnecting all terminals going to the boat, three plug in connectors. --Now I get spark! I hook up the spark plug wires and the engine wants to start but I get a backfire and no start.??? Could I have connected the coil wires wrong? Or maybe the spark plug wires crossed? Frustrating!

[aldotkd]

I cut the black and yellow wire going to the power pack and switched the spark plug wires around and it started right up. Now ofcourse it won't turn off at the switch. I don't want to replace the entire harness fm the engine back so could I simply put a toggle switch for the kill engine wires(yellow/blk)?\

thanks!!

[mwood1129]

There is a problem .. adding a toggle switch will just cover up the problem. I have a 70 h/p that is doing the same thing. It cost too dang much to go to the dealer and parts are too high just to start replacing them. Good luck. Post the cure if you find one .

Mike W