1998 Pantera 580efi NO SPARK HELP!!!!!!!! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 02:46 PM

Hey, I am new to this forum. I thought I would give it a whirl.
I have a 1998 Pantera that has been in the shop for the last three years.
In Jan. of 06 it broke down on the trail...soon got it ruuning again. The following weekend we went to go up north and it broke down before getting it on the trailer. After looking over things...it was apparent that it did not have spark. The fuel pump kicks on properly when the key is turned on.

So, this is what has been done:
(New means reconditioned in some cases)
- New Wiring harness
- New ECU
- New CDI
- New Stator
- New Timing Sensors

I put the timing sensors in today hopeing that would solve the problem. NO LUCK!

I am at a loss and looking for some advice. The sled only has 2,500miles on it and is in great condition.
Can anyone help!?

**RJ Gleason** · 10-22-2009, 03:09 PM

Is it showing any trouble codes on the ECU?

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 03:12 PM

No,
When you turn the key on....the red light blinks once.
It seems that we have tried everything under the sun...but I know it has to be something! I can't give up on it!

**RJ Gleason** · 10-22-2009, 03:18 PM

My guess is the TSS or the throttle pin bushing.
Unplug the wires to this (under the bar pad) and jumper the two outside ones.
The pin bushings are just plastic and cost about $.50.

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 03:36 PM

I believe this was looked at??
I unplugged them last night and had no success.
What colors am I suppose to jump, and what is the best way to so this?
Also, i have been reading some of the other threads and they suggest unplugging the 4-prong plug from the stator and jumping that to bypass all the kills?? Any advice there?

**RJ Gleason** · 10-22-2009, 03:39 PM

That bypasses everything, jumper the brown and black wires and you should have spark.
If not try it without the jumper. If you get spark, you need to unplug every switch and try then one at a time (leaving each plugged in as you test) until you find the one that is the problem.

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 03:57 PM

I will give it a shot tonight and let you know.
Thanks again for your help. This is my dad's sled and I really want to get it going for him!!

Blaine1 · 10-22-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedCatF6

Hey, I am new to this forum. I thought I would give it a whirl.
I have a 1998 Pantera that has been in the shop for the last three years.
In Jan. of 06 it broke down on the trail...soon got it ruuning again. The following weekend we went to go up north and it broke down before getting it on the trailer. After looking over things...it was apparent that it did not have spark. The fuel pump kicks on properly when the key is turned on.

So, this is what has been done:
(New means reconditioned in some cases)
- New Wiring harness
- New ECU
- New CDI
- New Stator
- New Timing Sensors

I put the timing sensors in today hopeing that would solve the problem. NO LUCK!

I am at a loss and looking for some advice. The sled only has 2,500miles on it and is in great condition.
Can anyone help!?

Make sure all of your connections are tight and moisture free. Check for frayed wires anywhere. Make sure the grounds are clean. Could be bad coils. If you have a used set you can put on it to try it is an easy check. Just because they put on new parts it doesn't necessarily mean they are good. Check the caps on the plug wires. Like RJ said, bypass all of the switches and try it. Kill switches, TSS and bad key switch has driven more than a few guys nuts trying to diagnose a no spark condition. Always try the cheap and easy stuff first. Keep us posted.

**kccats** · 10-22-2009, 06:12 PM

If bypassing doesn't work, go back to the stator! I had one that I pulled what little hair I had out on! It was as simple as the flywheel key fell out!

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 07:30 PM

Okay,
so I looked at the plug coming out of the stator...there were 3 wires, all are yellow with a red stripe?? I tried jumping them with all possible combinations....nothing seemed to work.

I then bypassed the killswitch....still nothing.
I checked the ground on the motor, and it seems to be good.

Like I said before, everything seems to function correctly, other than I dont have spark!

Is it possible that the key could be bad??? (I wouldnt think so, but thought I would ask)

My next step will be to try another coil(?)

Man this is a brain teaser!!!

**RJ Gleason** · 10-22-2009, 07:37 PM

There is also a 4 wire plug that goes to the cdi and also to the switch sets. This is the one to look at.

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 07:49 PM

I haven't been able to locate the CDI yet...
what am I looking for more specifically?? Do I want to put a jumber on that too?? Sorry for all of the questions....I would like to think that I am fairly mechanically inclined....but electrical crap gets me all confused.
Thanks

**RJ Gleason** · 10-22-2009, 07:51 PM

The plug you are looking for is a 4 wire cube plug. To find the CDI, trace back from the coils, the next part you find is the CDI.

RedCatF6 · 10-22-2009, 07:56 PM

I did that.....the wire went under the fuel tank???
I didnt put a lot of time into looking for it though.....
I just continue to tell myself that it has to be something simple. I am trying to find something that the other guys overlooked.

**kccats** · 10-23-2009, 08:43 AM

Where abouts are you located?

RedCatF6 · 10-23-2009, 09:07 AM

I am located in Central MI - Mt. Pleasant Area.

I feel like I have looked at everything and my last two things to check is the coil and the CDI...beyond that...I dont know what else to do.
I have good ground...I bypassed the kill switch and TSS.....replaced timing sensors...SO, what else is there to create spark....Coil and CDI right! (Do you feel my pain yet

!)

**RJ Gleason** · 10-23-2009, 09:50 AM

Can you try the ones that you have on a known good running sled?
Or try the ones from a sled that runs on this one.

RedCatF6 · 10-23-2009, 10:12 AM

Good idea...I have considered that, but have not been able to find anyone with a 1998 580 efi near me....That certainly would be nice to do that! Sure would be a lot easier than ordering parts all the time!

RedCatF6 · 10-23-2009, 10:40 AM

What is the best way to test a coil or CDI....can it be done??

**RJ Gleason** · 10-23-2009, 12:11 PM

The cdi and coil can be tested on any sled of near the same size.
So a 600 would work to test with.