The CDI is a device that must be powerd to work. It's just like your refridgerator. If you unplug it is ceases to work. If you tried to measure any voltage coming out of it you would not see any voltages anywhere, which I think is why you asked your question...

Yes, an unplugged CDI will not show any voltage. But the procedure asked to measure the "power" *to* the CDI and the "trigger voltage" to the CDI. This comes from the wiring harness. Going back to the refridgerator analogy, if the 'fridge doesn't work the first thing to do is measure whether it has power or not, right? To do this this you don't measure the 'fridge' - instead you measure the power at the plug feeding the 'fridge...

Power and trigger voltages to the CDI come from the stator. That is what you need to measure - with the CDI unplugged and out of the picture...

 

I have put a meter on the battery after charging it and the meter reads 12volts.

 

Okay. I removed the CDI box and checked for any signs of voltage and with the key switch on there was no sign of any voltage. Now what?

 

My battery reads 11 volts.

 

put it on a charger and bring her back up to 12.6 or so. above 12 anyways.

 

Okay. I got a chance today to check the voltage on the line going to the cdi box. It measured 39 volts AC. I charged the battery to 12 volts and connected it back on the quad. I still do not have a spark.

 

I was able to test the connections to the CDI. Here is what I found out. From the kill switch terminal to the four prong plug, there was no voltage readings(wich is probably a good thing). From the Ignition power switch wire to the four prong plug, I found there was 36 volts ac to each one except the upper right corner ground lead, which showed 31 volts ac. I received my new CDI box in the mail today, so I connectrd it to see if there would be a spark. There was a faint blue spark when I touched it to the jug. Do you think I would need to replace the battery. Because it seems I can charge it for a while, I get the 12 volt reading on it, then after I try to crank the quad several times, it drops to 11. Now , I know I am using some of the charge, but would it drop that quick? It only seems like minutes..I appreciate all helpful responses.

 

I'm on vacation with limited (or no) internet access. I won't be back to normal internet access until thursday. Please pardon any delays - I'm having too much fun .

You said you measured the voltage "on the line going to the cdi box". What line? And you measured this to what reference? In other words, where did you put the red lead of the meter, and where did you put the black lead? I'm not sure. Remember I'm not there, and therefore you need to use words to paint me a picture so I know what is going on . Right now I only know that you measured 39 volts AC from some pin to somewhere. And I'm not sure if you did that correctly...

A few posts back I posted a procedure to see if you have a DC CDI or and AC one. There were specific tests involved where you were supposed to provide complete answers, which you haven't done yet. This procedure was crafted to include some redundant checks, deliberately put in the tests to check the same thing in different ways. In other words, I'm checking to see if your measurements are believable. I have to, otherwise I don't know if your data is good or complete nonsense. From there I can go to into further troubleshooting, or instead concentrate on techniques for getting good diagnostic readings. Then we go on to further troubleshooting....

 

<P> On my digital meter, I kept the red lead on the two prong plug side and the black lead on the four prong plug side. Any ideas? </P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>Also today, I replaced the battery with a new one. I noticed , It now has a better spark from the plug. IT will not turn over though. <IMG class=inlineimg border=0 alt=0 src="http://forums.atvconnection.com/images/smilies/confused.gif" smilieid="10"></P>

 

I have no ideas whatsoever. I don't even know what you are doing . Your putting your red meter lead on some connector (which wire is unknown), and your black lead on another connector (again which wire is unknown). How is that going to help anyone trying to understand what you are doing?

I also have no ideas as to *why* you are doing what you are doing. This is going nowhere. You have a procedure to follow - yet you refuse to even attempt it. There is that old saying about leading a horse to water... What else can I say?...

I still don't know if your CDI is AC powered or DC powered!!! This is fundamental!!!

I can help you if you're willing to get with the program. I cannot help you if you keep going off course with ridiculous and vague nonsense measurements.

Kyle012, I know what I am doing. In order to help you I need good data to work with. We're now 18 or so posts into this and so I have nothing to work with so far....