1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

This is just the info I've been givne or have found
1999 Baylinr Capri with Mercruiser 4.3L Thunderbolt Ignition (sn 0L323553) with an Alpha One drive (sn 1.81R)

Just got the boat back from my wife's family, it has been in the garage all winter.
Back at the in-laws; clean up the boat (asthetically) reconnect battery, put fuel in the tank, check the oil and it should be ready, I'M TOLD.

To the boat ramp (I didn't disconnect from the trailer because of this...)

Key in, turns over fine. Plenty of cranking power.
Blower works, lights, etc.
Fires and then dies as soon as the starter disengages.
With the throttle up a bit (just above idle) SAME
With the throttle quite a bit higher, SAME

Suggestions.

Connections are all good. (visually)
Bro-in-law has no ideas as all he says he did was disconnect the battery.

Thinking...
Spark plugs? Distibutor...
Ignition system?

Thanks in advance.

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

Got to pump the throttle not just advance it forward. That way the accelerator pump can throw some fuel down. I usually give mine two full pumps if it has set for a week. Might ought to give it a try at your house on muffs before dragging to the lake.

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

Do you have the lanyard kill switch in and turned on?

I have to agree with 90, test run it on muffs, at home, before blocking the ramp to see if it will run.

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

If it runs while the starter is engaged you have electrical stuff to find. Get the diagnostic guide for the ignition system and troubleshoot it. And I agree verify the lanyard kill switch needs to be checked that it's set for "run".

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

LOL... Solution found... Tell ya in a sec... (Thank you brother in law...)

Tried to pump the throttle, couldn't even make it back before it died.
Don't worry, large boat ramp, private lake... I would've moved had someone needed the space, I understand common courtesy.
Lanyard checked, removed and rechecked... Thought about that too, as in "ah crap it's in the kill position and stuck"...

NOPE...
Simpler...
Upon doing some more research online, I discovered that model has 4 blue NO TOOL drains that I had not heard about. Went out to the boat (in the driveway now). Yup, clear as day, under the engine (on the sides really but not what I thought)
Pull one... little water. Pull the lower, LOTS OF WATER, other side same thing...
Wife finally gets ahold of the bro-in-law, "oh yeah, it was outside for some rain storms, no cover and I'm pretty sure there's water everywhere". Thanks for the headsup... When we cleaned it, everything was water logged but I never thought about IN the engine. Don't even want to know HOW it got in there right now. (They've got an appointment with a marine mech friend in a few weeks)

Let it drain for a good 20-30 then went out and it turned over like a good puppy (didn't let it run, just wanted to see if it would fire differently).
Took it to the ramp, FIRST START, no pumping. Ran it slow for a while, saw no steam or smoke or anything unusual from the last few seasons I've just been a passenger.

Going wakeboarding tomorrow!!!

Thanks for the replies though.
Good to know there's a brain base on here

Until next time......

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

all you did in removing the blue plugs is drain the cooling water from the block/manifolds - that water got in there from the lake/river/whatever body of water you backed into to start the engine, not from the rain

who knows what your issue was, my guess it probably was the lanyard switch, at least that is the symptom you described in your first post

BTW, when not using the boat, ALWAYS cover it - rain comes up at the least expected time

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

Happy Family!!!

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

Well hopefully the problem was operator induced (might have been the lanyard switch but I double checked it, maybe wrong). It'll get a good look through in a few weeks.

On the drain note...
Is it normal to have more than a couple qts of water in there?
Should that be part of trailering it? Like the drain plug under prop.

AND I have a new cover and TWO poles to keep water from puddling AND it'll be in a covered parking spot. I plan to take as good care as I can to make it run for a few more seasons on the lake

(YES, very happy family AND ME today)

Re: 1999 Merc 4.3L Thuderbolt Ignitiion on 18' Bayliner Capri

Leave the plug out when it's just sitting!