2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

[96TL]

Hey guys. This is my first post on this forum. There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable people here. I have twin 2001 FICHT motors. One of them (port side) refuses to start. It’s been acting up for a while, getting harder and harder to fire up every trip. Once it was started and warmed up though it would fire up instantly for the rest of the day. It’s been completely dead since last week. My marina mechanic who supposedly “Specializes in Evinrude” seems to be stumped. He’s been looking at it since Monday and can’t figure it out. It’s definitely an ignition problem though. The EMM did not throw any codes by the way.<br /><br />There was no spark on either bank when I looked at it. I only checked one spark plug on each side though. I swapped the EMM from my starboard motor but that had no effect at all. I replaced the spark plugs (gapped & indexed) and the TPS sensor as well. I checked all the fuses and relays, all fine. I even charged the batteries. I noticed that this motor cranks a lot slower than my starboard motor even with a fully charged battery. I’m wondering if maybe the starter is cranking too slow causing the stator to not generate enough power to create enough spark. What do you guys recommend I check? I’m having a tough time locating a mechanic here in Brooklyn, NY. I’ll tell my guy later today to check the Crank Position Sensor and test the starter. It just worries me that I’m telling him what to check!<br /><br />Thanks a million!<br /><br />Dom

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

I just got some more info from my mechanic. It looks like the spark plugs spark when they’re out of the motor. Once they go back in, no spark. Do you think that since the motor has no compression with the plugs out, the starter can crank it faster, creating the spark? Is it safe to say the starter is the problem? It started raining pretty hard here so he’s probably done for today.

 

[MCM]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Welcome to the forum, <br /><br />I think that's a good place to start looking, the starter has to turn the flywheel a specified amount of rpm's before the stator will generate enough power to produce spark.<br /><br />Sounds like your right on top of it, start with checking all the connections, nothing loose, etc.<br /><br />Good Luck

 

[clanton]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Check the power pack/ign module. Im supprised the tech did not do this. Pack fail does not show code. You can check the pack by disconnecting yellow wire from pack, tap to ground while cranking, if no spark pack bad, change coils with pack. Ceck the manual I may have wire color WRONG.

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Does the motor only have one pack or are there two, one for each bank? I’m not sure where it is exactly. I’m still learning my way around it. Thanks.

 

[papasmurf]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

It would worry me too, telling the mechanic what to do! Does your mechanic have a laptop with the diagnostic software for the Ficht motors or the ability to work on the Ficht's?

 

[papasmurf]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

The Ficht motors do not have "packs". They have either an ECU or an EMM.

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

That explains why I can't find a power pack. My motor has an EMM. So the spark comes from the EMM, through the coil, into the spark plug?<br /><br />My mechanic does have the laptop with the software. He said when he hooked it up to the motor everything looked fine. It didn't trigger any check engine codes so I pretty much knew it would look okay.

 

[muskrat]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

if it is not turn over at the proper rpm it will never syn & and spark will be intermitting.starter,batteries,connection?????

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

I charged the batteries last night and it was still cranking slow. The connections on the terminals okay. Not super clean, but not that bad either. I didn't check the starter connections yet.<br /><br />If my mechanic doesn't look at it today, I'll check it out tomorrow. I'll clean all connections on the battery, solenoid, and starter and see what happens. If it still doesn't start I'll swap starters with my starboard motor. Hopefully that will do it.<br /><br />Dom

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

BTW, is there anyway to tell if the starter is cranking too slow besides the diagnostic software? Can I use a meter and check the voltage at the starter?

 

[MCM]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

If you've got the manual it will cover that. I'm sure somebody here has the procedure.<br /><br />You could always swap starters, kind of a pain in the 6 though

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

I know but worth a shot. I do have the OEM manual though. I'll look it up tonight.

 

[James Clarke]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Yes, Do a voltage drop test while cranking at the batt and the starter Digital meter is usually a beter way. Fuel injected engines, If voltage drops below a certain voltage say 8.5 9 volts at the starter the emm will say "nope" not going to start. Not enough power while cranking. Hope this helps

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Well, I tried swapping the starters tonight. The motor still wouldn't start. What else can I check besides the voltage? (I'll check that tomorrow)

 

[MCM]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Did the starter crank as slow on your trouble motor or did it crank faster like it does on the motor you pulled it off of

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

It definitely did crank faster. I think the slow starter might be on its way out but still usable for now because I put it on the good motor and it still fired up. <br /><br />I have one motor that's impossible to fix, and one thats impossible to break.

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

BTW, the motor has 254 hours on it as of now.

 

[MCM]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

Dom, I noticed in an earlier post you said the mechanic told there was spark when the plugs were out but no spark when there in. You can't see any spark when there in!! they may be sparking, just not stong enough to star the motor...follow me?<br /><br />I think its time to troubleshoot your stator, It may not be producing enough voltage!!

 

[96TL]

Re: 2001 FICHT 150HP; Cranks but won’t start

I get what your saying. I just assumed he used an inline spark plug test tool to check if they were sparking when they were in. I hope he did anyway. <br /><br />I took one plug out last night and there was no spark whatsoever. I tested for spark the dangerous way by touching the coil with a screwdriver. It was dead. I did the same on the other motor and it shocked the hell out of me.<br /><br />My uncle is coming to look at it now. He's a good car mechanic and knows inboards as well. But he doesn't have too much experience with outboards though.<br /><br />How can I check the stator with the motor not running?<br /><br />Thanks guys.<br /><br />Dom