1996 Evinrude 150hp Ocean Pro

[scarlettpup]

I want to start by telling you that this motor is a very strong running outboard. I have owned it for three years and purchased (boat, motor, & trailer) from a good friend. I have it serviced regularly by a certified technician whom I trust and hold in high regard. My problem began last summer while on vacation in Cape Hattersas with my wife, friends, and boat. While flounder fishing the Hattersas Inlet the outboard began to act eratic. It stalled while just trolling along for no apparent reason. I re-started the motor only to to have it stall again. It would start and stall immediately (only running 1 to 2 seconds) over and over again. It eventually started and ran absolutely perfect back to the pier, about 5 miles. The following day, we decided to go fishing again. Motor would not start. About 4 hours later, I tried re-starting the motor and it started immediately and ran perfect. Returning from vacation, I took the boat to my tech where he attempted to diagnose the problem. With the motor running fine, he was not able to put a finger on the problem. He could only suggest what he thought it could be. I have had numerous incidents ever outting with this boat of engine malfunction. But, it always starts and brings me home. I had it out again today and it ran perfect for the first 10 miles. I anchored the boat and sat for about 30 minutes. When I attempted to re-start it began to act eratic again (start, stall, start, stall). We have replaced the optic sensor, inigition switch, and stator. I have been told that the rectifier and power pack have been replaced a number years ago, but I have no documentation to support that. My tech has checked out the fuel system and all of the obvious. I have talked with two other techs and they basically said until it won't start at all, it's going to be very difficult to diagnose. Has anyone out there had similiar problems with this motor. Do you have any suggestions where I should go from here. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1996 Evinrude 150hp Ocean Pro

I'd put some diagnostic tools in the boat, soon as it starts acting up put the timing light on spark plug wires to see if the ignition is collapsing.

Or , once it starts acting up, cart it home and see if it can be made to act up on the muffs, then troubleshoot ignition via the manual.
Spark test it, mine showed weak spark on one bank, powerpack time.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1996 Evinrude 150hp Ocean Pro

Pup, Intermittent issues are really hard to diagnose. Last weekend my '98 Johnny 150HP was reallly hard to start and would stall. I believe it ws the sensor that activates the Quickstart feature. However, it started working perfectly again, so I am not sure.

Can you advance the throtle in neutral o that when the motor starts it will run at 1100RPM or so? If so, try that when it acts up, and run it at 100RPM for a few minutes until it is warmed up. This may cure your cold start issue. As for your stalling while trolling, it could be a bunch of things: carb mixture, thermostats, fuel restriction...

Check the port head temp sensor. If it has a white/blk wire, that is the sensor for the quickstart feature. The white/blk wire should be open at <90F and closed above 90F.

 

[dingbat]

Re: 1996 Evinrude 150hp Ocean Pro

It?s a long shot but check your shift switch. My 200hp was running great then one day it intermittently wouldn't idle worth a darn. Start, die, start, die. Then it started acting up now and then while at cruise speed. I checked everything 3times, nothing.

Then by chance I noticed that wiggling the shifter had some affect. Put a meter on the shift switch and noticed it would go open/ close if knocked around. Changed out the switch and the motor has run like a champ since.