Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

[vthokie407]

Hey everybody,

I'm new to boating, and purchased a fixer-upper about a year ago. It is a 15 foot bow-rider that a mechanic slapped an 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP outboard on. It's been finicky, to say the least, and lately I've been having power/throttle issues. My neighbor suggested my carbs and fuel injectors might be junked up due to ethanol in the gasoline, etc. Today I ran a 5 gallon jug gasoline/oil/fuel cleaner through the engine. It took about 2 1/2 hours to empty the jug while the engine idled. When it was finished, I turned the boat off, reconnected my normal gas tank, and attempted to start. Turning the key did nothing at all. If I pushed the key in, I could hear the primer click in the motor, but turning the key did not attempt to start the boat at all. Any ideas what might be causing this? Obviously it was working earlier in the day when I ran the fuel system cleaner through it. I'm a newbie at this, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

- J

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

Hi
Check the fuse first, if its there itl be near the starter solenoid where the battery +ve cable connects too.
If thats ok then try jumping a wire from the big +ve on the solenoid that the battery cable goes to too the little +ve on the solenoid that comes from the key control box. (Theres only two little terminals on the solenoid, one has a little wire on it that goes to a ground screw near the solenoid, the other small terminal is the positive one)

If that starts the motor then its a key switch problem
If it doesnt start it you have a solenoid or battery cable problem or starter problem.
So try jumping straight to starter to check that if the testing indicates that might be the problem.

The solenoid should click when you jump on to the little positive on it, if you dont hear the click then suspect the battery cables or grounds or the solenoid itself

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

Since your choke primers clicking your fuse should be ok

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

89 Evinrude V4 110 HP outboard... I've been having power/throttle issues... I ran a 5 gallon jug gasoline/oil/fuel cleaner through the engine... I reconnected my normal gas tank... Turning the key did nothing at all... If I pushed the key in, I could hear the primer click in the motor, but turning the key did not attempt to start the boat at all... It was working earlier in the day when I ran the fuel system cleaner through it.

I don't recommend running any kind of solvent thru the engine other than what OMC (in the past) or Bombardier recommends. If they don't recommend it, avoid it. Good meaning friends can be expensive.

Since the primer solenoid functions (clicks), the 20 ampere power fuse is okay. Normally your problem is caused by a throttle lever that is still out of the neutral position OR the neutral safety switch, within the control box on your model, needs a slight adjustment closer to the cam that actuates it. A finicky neutral safety switch can usually be identified by shaking the throttle lever back and forth which caused the safety switch plunger to move in and out resulting in intermitent action of the starter solenoid (when the key is in the START position).

 

[racerone]

Re: Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

Start the trouble shooting with a compression test.------Then test for good spark on all 4 cylinders.--Spark is NO GOOD if it will not jump a gap of 3/8" or more.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Motor won't turn on - Ignition? 89 Evinrude V4 110 HP

Test the starter by jumping it direct with a set of automotive jumper cables-to a known strong battery. If the starter cranks the engine normally, it's likely OK. Then check all the cable ends (starter and battery) to make sure they are shiny clean and tight. Then check the key switch and the starter solenoid. Could even be a bad starter cable. You may need to pull the carbs apart. Over time, fuel will dry up in these carbs. Once the thin vapors evaporate, the fuel gel remains. The only thing that will touch dried fuel is a carb cleaner, like a Gumout type product. You'll need to pull all the jets for a visual inspection, then flush all the passages with that carb cleaner to make sure they are equally able to flow fuel.