Motor Turns over, but won't start.

[eddiedaehn2000]

I have the MerCruiser 120 Hp inboard motor, and I have no idea about boats. I live about two hours away from the closest boat shops. This is my first boat, and I don't know how to get it to do anything. It won't start. Can you help me? It will turn over, and over but not start. What's wrong with it?

 

[motox6]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

First check ignition and fuel, make sure you are getting both. pull a plug and ground it or get a tester to check for spark, check inside distributor cap for corrosion or moisture. If ok then check for fuel by pulling of a fuel at the carburator or fuel injector rail if equipped. We'll talk after you insure that these things are not working.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Ok, it has a carburator, and it is getting fuel there. I have even bypassed the fuel pump, didn't work, tried to manually fuel thru the carb, kicked a little harder once, then went back to normal. I am getting spark, new plugs, wires... nothing. Bypassed the ignition as well. What else?

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

It hasn't been started in like 4 years. I started to change the oil, and when I pulled the plug, it was brown and smelled like gas.

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

What color was the spark when you tested it?

 

[hoot]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

when you give the throttle lever a good push, do you see gas squirting into the carb? if you pull a spark plug wire and hold it close to the plug, does a spark jump across to the plug? has it got a kill switch? did you replace the gas? (might could add sta-bil). change fuel filters, prime gas pump. can you use a vom to check volts at the coil? choke open or closed on carb? are you using water muffs on the outdrive? you might want to consider that 2 hr. trip if all else fails. these motors are not that different from car motors. there may be a local car shop that can help, just remember those muffs!!

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

ok let's see, I don't know what a kill switch is or where it would be. Nor do I know what water muffs are. I just took the fuel pump off and had it tested, it's bad. Ordered a new one. may help right? sorry more rhetoric. Tried the choke open and closed. I will figure that part out. Hope the new fuel pump will fix problem. Does anyone know where I may find some sort of wiring diagram for the controls? I want to replace some of it. The ignition doesn't work, but I have bypassed it, but I am trying to test everything else, like the gages and whatnots. I can't seem to find out anything about the wiring, to make sure that everything is connected right, or how to replace them.

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

I have some info for wiring up to 1984 what year is your boat?

 

[kcole683]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Buy a service manual and don't start it unless you have boat in the water or water from a garden hose through the outdrive with earmuff adapter.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

I think that it is older than that. It looks like the 1972 Aristo Craft 9-teen. Do you have anything close to that? Doesn't have to match. I will "wing it" if possible. Thank you, you are being sooo much help.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Where is the outdrive, how do I do that spark?

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

I can send you an email with a basic wiring diagram for both instrument panel and engine wiring for your setup if you post your address.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

ok eddiedaehn2000@yahoo.com, I really appreciate this. do you know where I may find some extra info on it?

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

You got mail. You can edit your address from your post if you want. For the extra info you can buy a manual such as Seloc or other aftermarket manuals. Factory manuals are best but expensive and hard to find. Iboats also has manuals for sale at the top of the page.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

You are a god! thank you sooo much. I will start using it as soon as I get off of here. Um out of curiousity, where is the water muff located? I am trying to find it. I see this thing by the gas tank, that looks like where a water hose is supposed to go but I don't know, can you help? Thanks.

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Hey no problem!!<br />Spark chaser is talking about the muffs that you put on the leg of your boat. They are used when you start your boat out of the water. They are not a permanent fixture(they are just used to supply water when you run your boat at home)The water hose from your house connects to these muffs that cover the vents on the leg. Water is drawn in to provide cooling of your engine and muffling the exhaust. If you don't use water it will damage your rubber impellor in your leg in seconds once the motor starts. Every boat place will know what you are talking about if you ask for water muffs for the leg, I don't think they are too pricy.<br /><br />It sounds like you are a relative Newbee when it comes to boats, here is a website one of the other posters told me about. It has a lot of good info on it. http://mercstuff.com

 

[rattana]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Regarding the hose, I don't know without seeing it. Follow it and if goes to an external pump on the front of the engine you may have a through hull water pickup, and that would be the way you supply water when you want to run it at home. See where it goes and let us know.

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Ok, I went and hour to get the ear muffs. I got them, installed the new fuel pump and it still won't start. I manuelly poured gas thru the carb and it kicked harder for a minute, then went back to normal and just kept turning over.

 

[captkid]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

barbello <br /><br />so when you crank this thing for a while and she doesnt start, have u pulled the plugs and checked for gas, see if the are drenched in the stuff?<br /><br />also when you turn it over, you say you hear it "kick", i'm assuming like it wants to start? or is it actually firing and when u release the key it doesnt stay running?<br /><br />kid

 

[eddiedaehn2000]

Re: Motor Turns over, but won't start.

Ok, well, I checked the plugs, they smell like gas but they aren't drenched or anything. And I mean that it turns over and when I put gas into it, it turns a little harder. I don't have an ignition, I have bypassed that though