2004 Merc 90 4-Stroke (Carbs) intermitent power loss

jimswist

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Jul 1, 2015
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Ran fine after launch (with full service done beforehand), sat on mooring during 10 day cold/rain. Then won't start unless throttle advanced and quickly stalls, BUT after trying for a while runs better and better as engine warms up and less throttle advance needed, but will eventually lose power from any speed - might go back up, or more likely stall. After stall engine usually starts right up. Working with mechanic, we don't think it's fuel - checked for water/dirt. Clean gas comes from all 4 carb bowls. Pumping priming bulb while in power loss mode does nothing, bulb is hard, ran great before cold/rain on same fuel. Also since it starts right up after stall, would tend to indicate there is fuel in system, no? Our best guess is a loose connection somewhere, or maybe in the ECU. Looking it over. Will also pull plugs and look at them, but I've had "one cylinder out" issues in the past and it wasn't anything like this.

Only other info - battery is old and saw some intermittent high and low voltmeter readings at speed. Was about to put new battery in when this happened. But how could that be related.
 
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