Hot start

[sealyons]

My '85 mercruiser mr 200 (5.0l) does not seem to want to start up after it has run for a little while. It seems like a low battery as it turns over very slowly. If I wait until the next day it seems to be fine. Starter was rebuilt last year. Any suggestions?

 

[b00tstrap]

Re: Hot start

[quote ] It seems like a low battery as it turns over very slowly. [/quote]

How old is your battery? In my area I can bring a battery to an auto parts chain store and they can do a quick health test.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Hot start

could be the timing is off and hot start is affected, but I would check the battery first and all the connections. clean them and put them back on

 

[sealyons]

Re: Hot start

The battery is only about 3 years old & stored inside in the winter. Will get it checked anyways. Connections look good, cleaned when I re-installed the starter. Timing seems OK as it idles and runs rather well.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Hot start

bought a battery once several years ago had it a month battery went bad don't say the battery is good just because it is "only 3 years old" take to the auto parts store and have them load test it. I doesn't cost anything and will tell you alot

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Hot start

Check your timing.

I believe SBC's can act like that if the timing is off.

 

[Daddy O]

Re: Hot start

Yes check your timing. SBC's can act like that if the timing is off. Even if it seems to be running fine.

 

[JasonR]

Re: Hot start

Well I would put a known good battery in it then try. If it does the same thing then I would check the starter. Its a ford? If it is then change the starter solenoid, check all of the connections including the battery terminals and then get a new starter. Rebuilds are always suspect. I have had alot of bad "new ones" . You could rule out the timing possibility by D/C'ing the coil wire and turning it over and see if it is still slow. I guess I don't understand that possibility of why the timing would make a engine crank slow. This screams BAD STARTER to me. But thats only worth 2 cents.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hot start

Jason, the Merc 200's were 305 Chevy engines.
If the timing is too early it will definatly slow down the cranking. When the cylinder fires to early (before it gets to TDC), it tries to crank the engine backwards. Thus the slow cranking.

 

[JasonR]

Re: Hot start

You get what you pay for!! But if you d/c the coil lead and it still cranks then its dead on electrical.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hot start

I guess I don't understand that possibility of why the timing would make a engine crank slow.

You said you couldn't understand how it could happen, I explained it.
Of course with a hot engine with a lot of carbon build up it could happen with the coil disconnected as well.

 

[JasonR]

Re: Hot start

No, I wasn't clear, sorry. I meant to see if it is a poor cranking starter that you could d/c the coil wire and crank it with no spark. If it still is slow then you know its electrical IE - starter, battery, terminals, connections ect. If it cranks fine then it could be timing, that all. I see what you mean with the carbon, I would imagine that the combustion camber would have to be really carboned and hot. thanks