[hawks13]

I have a 2001 Mercury efi 200hp Mercury Outboard motor that I am having trouble with starting. When I try to start the motor, it sounds like its not getting gas or something. When I take the cover off and should some starter fluid in the choke, it starts right up like nothing and runs perfect. The if I turn it off and wait about half an hour, it will start up again. The problem is if I wait longer, it won’t start until I spray starter fluid in the card again. Does anyone know what this might be.

[gss036]

Hawks, welcome to the board.
You should not be using starting fluid on your 2 stroke motor, especially on a regular basis as it will was off the lube and has the potental to cause you problems. Try using the spray SeaFoam as it has some lube in it.
I am not familiar w/EFI systems, but I would suspect that your choke/enrichment valve is not working (if you have one), other wise you are loosing fuel pressure w/the EFI system and it is not priming the fuel system.
Hopefully the experts will jump in and give some ideas.

[bayfun]

Suspect you have bad gas- water. Remove your filter and drain, if you have an additional filter out of the engine compartment drain or replace. Be sure to use a 10 micron filter in the one outside your engine cover. West marine has them but some are 21 micron. A new Merc filter to replace the one in the engine cover is only $25.oo from a merc dealer with a new water sensor. Now the secret may be that you have water in a chamber where the oil is mixed with the gas. This will stop your engine from starting. Looking from the front of your engine you will see a silver box with what looks like part of a cylinder in front of it with a dome on the top. There is a drain plug at the bottom of this cylinder. Open it with a can and rags beneath it. Drain it. Then put the plug back in. Use your fuel bulb to pump NEW fuel in it and try to start. There is also a needle valve in this compartment that can be damaged if sitting in water to long. Water in gas is a problem with the new etenol gas. Let me know if that works.