Got a 2001 Merc 35 OB w/ elec. start on my fishing boat. Last summer I changed the plugs when they were fouled up and it wasn't starting well. This year, motor ran fine two trips, but last two times out, motor quits a few seconds after starting. Then it won't start and acts like it's flooded. Choking won't help. On a whim, I disconnected the fuel line from the can to possibly dry out the plugs. After attempting to start it for a minute after that, motor starts up and will run, finally reaching a good high idle before running out of gas. So I plug it back in, try and start it, get fuel in the line, then disconnect the fuel again. A minute later, it starts again. Not wanting to be stranded, I throw it in gear and get moving at a good rate with whatever fuel is in the line and my buddy plugs the gas can in. Usually that will get us to where we need to go...at least for now. But a three-year-old motor shouldn't behave this way. Fresh gas, new plugs, oil level is fine, but why will my motor run when it's disconnected from the fuel line and quit once I give it a fuel source? Plugs are wet while problem is occurring, so I think it's flooding, but don't know why. Venting the can doesn't help either. It's not predictable, but I've nearly mastered the disconnect-reconnect method of getting it running. It will start one minute, then an hour later after fishing awhile, we want to move and it will flood out.. or whatever it's doing, and I'll have to mess with unplugging the fuel and my buddy timing the "fuel plugin" just right until we're moving good. Any suggestions?
