2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

[gonfshn33]

Hello guys...

When starting, the motor did not crank for several tries then I cut the key off and cut it back on and it started right up. It does not plane off easily now but when it planes out it runs pretty well UNTIL it just takes a nose dive, it will either run very rough after this or die when I throttle back. After this it will not plane out again until I pump the bubble. Once pumped it will plane off again and run for a while again. It does seem to cruise along ok at about 4k rpms but I can take to WOT and trim out and will cut out a lot faster. When I cut the key on I can hear the pump run for about 15 seconds or so then cut off. It does not sound very smooth but I have not paid attention until now so I am not sure how it should sound. I checked the volts to the pump and it is 12.44. I tried to pull the fuel pick up in the tank but I could not get it to unscrew. I have changed the fuel lines, the bulb, the filter, rebuilt the low pressure pump, and changed the spark plugs. Does anyone have any ideas??? Someone said that it is probably a delivery problem and another person said HP pump. I did suck air through the anit siphon valve when it was off and it did not seem to let air through very easily but again I am not sure how tight they should be. When pumping the bubble I can hear it chattering. The HP pump is very expensive but if someone could just say hey if you replace it the motor will run fine I would be glad to drop the coins. If it were only that easy...Please help if you have any experience....Thanks, Matthew.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

Run it on a 6 gallon test tank to eliminate the fuel supply on boat side.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

good ole EFI motors, just sold mine yesterday, frikin expensive pain in the butt motor it was. going back to a much better design called carbs. You need to get a fuel gauge..they are cheap on e-bay or places like harbor freight tools. I am not real familiar with merc EFI, but I will assume they have a place to screw the gauge on the fuel rail so you can monitor the pressure. you need to get a manual and see what the pressures should be. Fazt is correct (he usually is), that test will eliminate a bad tank vent/pick-up or bad fuel line connection, going to the motor. good luck.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

Need serial#s and model#s to be sure that were working on the right stuff.
Profile,location?
The EFI has a regulator that if bad willl do just what you described.
You need to take the fuel pump pressure.Not sure of the readings untill I get the serial#s.
My are between 36-38# No more or less.
The pump making a lot of noise?
Drain the vapor seperator.Check for water.Any water and you can just about bet a new pump is needed.
They are expensive but look around the can be found a couple hundred $ below OEM.
Ethanol is messing with a lot of hoses and plastics on the older motors.
Rebuild the pulse pump.Check the filters for junk/water.
You have a water/fuel seperating filter?If not install one.They need to be checked at least once a month and changed yearly.

 

[gonfshn33]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

the serial number is OT104836. I live in northern MS. I have recently rebuilt the low pressure pump and changed the fuel line from the tank to the low pressure pump including the bulb with a new mercury bulb. I did change the water separator filter. I am going to try the external tank as soon as I can. We have checked the fuel pressure and it is about 38#'s sometimes and sometimes it is nearly nothing. I can flick the key on and off a few times and the pressure will be there again. The shop wants to dig into the vst and check things in there and check the float. The thing about this is I have already dropped several bills with them and I still am having problems. I hate to keep throwing $ at it while they just probe around. I am open to suggestions. Again I am going to try the external tank but until them I am still looking for advice. Jerry, you are the first to suggest the regulator. How would this cause my problems? Thanks, Matthew

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

welcome to the wonderful world of EFI outboards. $$$$$$$...it is my understanding that a regulator normally would either work or not..but I guess it is possible that it could be sticky or something. I would be more suspect of the VST chamber or high pressure fuel pump. just keep throwing money at it...honestly it is about all you can do unless you are willing to take the many hours needed to learn your motor and buy the tools needed to work on it. I am not sure what those earlier motors have as far as computer diagnostics ..but the later ones you must have a laptop and program along with a cable in order to work on your motor. I just hooked up a carbbed motor on my sea pro, sold my 2003 F115 EFI yesterday..had a huge frikin smile on my face when that guy drove off ..

 

[1nebel0]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

Not as bad as you are making it out to be.. I have a couple of 200h.p EFI's and one carb 200h.p.. Two are 1995's and the carb is a 1994.. I like the carb motor as far as easy to fix but really the electric fuel pump and the VST are the common problems..their is a short hose with a small filter in it coming off the VST..any junk in there and you got problems... I just replace the hose on every one I come accross.. Fuel pressure is key as well and you need a high pressure gauge to check it....If you find a good mechanic a couple of hours should have it fixed unless they don't know what they are doing.. A remote tank is a must to quickly eliminate your tank/anti siphon possible issues...After that and no resolve you can always take it in...I know this is not going to be a problem but before taking it in, check for quality spark on all 6 and check the compression...you don't want to pay for this service and you want to make sure that you can tell the mechanic the numbers and spark quality to stop him from wasting your money...just my 02.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

Hook up a pressure tester.
When the motors running or off(key on) the pressure should be the same.41-45#That's the specks I found.
Any lower then the pump is suspect.To make sure contact Mercury service.They will answer you.
Higher then the regulator is bad.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

.If you find a good mechanic.

here in lies a huge problem...there are absolutely no outboard mechanics that I have found in my area that are worth a crap..they all run up hours guessing and keep you boat for WEEKS (months during the spring/summer) before they even get around to it...gross incompetence is all I have found. but all you have to do is search the pages of this forum to find the many woes of EFI. I mean why even have a boat if it may spend all summer at the boat shop and come out with a $2500 bill (a very common number now a days)..that is stupid, I could have purchased a good used carb motor for that and been on the water all summer and fix any problems myself, and parts are a fraction of the cost of EFI motor parts. It just makes sense for me.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 2000 mercury 200 efi, starvrting for fuel...

Check fuel pressure with the motor running, if pressure is low, i9mmediately shut off the motor and drain the VST into a suitable container watching to see if there is sufficient volume of fuel to fill the VST.

If yes, order a high pressure fuel pump

If no, disconnect the fuel hose from the low pressure pump to the VST, point it into a suitable container and crank the motor, watching the fuel flow to determine if the fuel supply is adequately strong. Temporarily install a clear hose between the low pressure pump and VST, start the motor and observe the clear hose watching for any 'bubbles' passing thru, indicating air sucking into the system somewhere before the low pressure pump.