my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

[dencio65]

i always test my mercruiser 3.0 before heading to the lake, i put the muffs and hose then run it for 10 mins, i start the engine with no problem, always one click, not until last saturday, it wont start on the lake, battery is good, starter has no problem, engine just decided not to start. The following morning, before calling the boat mechanic, i tried to start it again, well it started with no problem, run it for 10 mins. Then today, before heading the lake, i again did the same ritual, well no problem because the engine just started with no problem, well guess what, it wont start when i launch it on the lake.....NEED HELP!!!!...desperately need answers!

 

[dingdongs]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

shift interupt switch faulty.

 

[dencio65]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

shift interupt switch faulty.

shift interupt switch faulty. does it mean i have no problem starting the boat while on the trailer...but the problem start when i launch the boat...it will not start...the engine will just crank? do i need to replace the shift interrupt switch?

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

You may be backing it in to far and getting water in the exhaust.

 

[larivies]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

you may have a bad ground. Did you check groud cable from battery to engine and +wire to starter?

when you crank it, do you have voltage on starter selenoid ?S? terminal?

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

How much time passes between running the engine at home and trying to start it at the lake? If the engine is still warm, then you may have a carb/choke problem (ie. it starts ok when cold, but won't start if warm?)
Try running it, then leave it for x? minutes, then restart it.

 

[dencio65]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

you may have a bad ground. Did you check groud cable from battery to engine and +wire to starter?

when you crank it, do you have voltage on starter selenoid ?S? terminal?

i think starter selenoid is ok...it starts and engine runs while my boat is out of the water..problem when i launched my boat wont start on the water...engine cranks ...battery is good after starting many times...

 

[dencio65]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

How much time passes between running the engine at home and trying to start it at the lake? If the engine is still warm, then you may have a carb/choke problem (ie. it starts ok when cold, but won't start if warm?)
Try running it, then leave it for x? minutes, then restart it.

i run the engine at home for 10 minutes...then off then on...no problem...when i launch the boat in the lake maybe after 1 to 2 hours...it wont start...have good battery, starter is good...engine just cranks...

 

[dingdongs]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

its time to get a multimeter and check if you have 12v on positive side of coil.is the throttle control in neutral when your trying to crank as some have a button/lever so you can rev without putting drive into gear this is why i was pointing to the shift switch in the throttle.you also have another shift interupt switch on the throttle/gear bracket on the backyou need 12v at the coil .if when you get to the lake again put a permanent feed to coil and see if it will start.check all voltages and where before you go to water and what changes when your there.are you puttingt the lanyard line on if your control has one?????????

 

[thumpar]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

How much time passes between running the engine at home and trying to start it at the lake? If the engine is still warm, then you may have a carb/choke problem (ie. it starts ok when cold, but won't start if warm?)
Try running it, then leave it for x? minutes, then restart it.

I like this idea. Run it in the driveway like normal. Wait the amount of time it take to get to the lake and launch and see if it still starts.

 

[Don S]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

You haven't by some chance messed with the timing and tried to set it by ear did you? That's a common problem with engines that start on land with no back pressure and in the water.

Do you use the throttle only position on your control and give it some throttle when starting warm?

 

[dencio65]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

i never change anything on the engine...it always runs until two saturdays ago...well i think i need to go to the nearest boat repair shop!!!

 

[fat fanny]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

It would be wise to troubleshoot the electrical connections make sure there all clean,tight and lubed with dialectric grease then move onto possible issues with the kill switch,neutral safety switch (in the trottle lever) as well as the shift interupter switch on the lever control ontop of the valve cover then move onto possibly not getting voltage to the coil. All of these issues have been mentioned before in this thread and if you do not take these matters into your own hands it could become very costly by having it done by a tech especially if he has to chase the issue of it being intermitant. Every issue mentioned that could be the problem can be tracked down by a test light and a multi meter it just takes time and patience and the using the proper course of action. Time and weather play havoc on electricals and starting systems on a boat it requires an extra step in the maintenance program of your rig but pays off in reliable runablilty.

 

[generator12]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

You haven't by some chance messed with the timing and tried to set it by ear did you? That's a common problem with engines that start on land with no back pressure and in the water.

Do you use the throttle only position on your control and give it some throttle when starting warm?

What Don said. If the ONLY thing that changes is the presence of water around the boat, then it's something peculiar to that condition. Unless you can find some condition that's different from when the boat is on the trailer and when it's in the water, it is probably the presence of backpressure against the exhaust.

Check the ignition timing and use a little throttle when starting. If these yield nothing, get back to us.

 

[achris]

Re: my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

my 1996 bayliner with mercruiser 3.0 wont start on water?

Try using petrol....

Chris..........
(Sorry, I just had to do it....)