No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2

[Grant Brown]

History: Purchased just before Christmas last year. I bought it the day a major winter storm hit our area. It wasn't winterized at the time I bought it. It ran good the day I got it. I ran it around the bay a bit, brought it home and drained the block and manifolds in the snow storm at 10:00 pm. I never got to winterize the fuel system.

I got it started yesterday (hard starting and had to prime the carb) and warmed it up. After it ran a bit rough for a minute or two then it idled down nicely and held steady at about 750 rpm. I changed the oil and then today when I went to fire it, the motor turns over, coughs, sputters almost goes, but won't really catch. It will start to go if I give it lots of throttle (in neutral) but it seems to want to completely rev up and even then won't stay running. As soon as I let off the starter, it dies. While all this is going on it seems to be blowing some black smoke.

The whole time it was doing this, I did not hear the fuel pump working. Could this be the problem? I pulled the harness off it and used a test light but got no power. How do you test the pump?

This 1993 Spectrum has seen some salt water - I have already replaced the starter and all the electrical components on the trim pump.

I was hoping to get out for a good run this weekend - not if I can't figure this out...

Thanks for any ideas,
Grant

 

[billy boater]

Re: No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2

if u pulled the harness off the fuel pump and there is no power i would check breakers and fuses. are u sure u had a good ground on ur test light.

 

[Bondo]

Re: No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2

While all this is going on it seems to be blowing some black smoke.

Ayuh,... That would indicate it's Over fueling.... Is the Carb leaking internally,..??

The Fuelpump only gets Power when starting, or running..

 

[Don S]

Re: No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2

The fuel pump only runs when the engine is cranking over and when the engine oil pressure builds up.


Are you using the proper starting methods?
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1863195#post1863195

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2 - Solved

Re: No Start - 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2 - Solved

The kill switch lanyard was cracked and fell off in my hand while checking it today. Pulled switch all the way out, wrapped a zip-tie on it and runs fine.

I lost a weekend on the water but at least I didn't tow it over to the marine mechanic like I was thinking about doing...

Grant