NEED HELP 1997 Four Winns Fling 115hp OMC

So I had a cooling hose (water circulating) come off the water filter while driving. Stopped going on plane so I tipped up the engine cover and the water was up about a foot from the bottom with about 1/3 of the motor wet. I shut it down, put on the bilge and worked to cut and reattach the hose. The muffler was blistering hot, so much so that’s it melted he top of the rectifier/regulator and one part of a wiring harness. The harness was the part that i think is for diagnostic or it went to the oil injector that was removed years ago. Any way was towed in, trailered and off to my garage. Wire seemed redundant as it was connected to nothing, tell me if it MUST be replaced please. It comes off the main harness with 3 different connector plugs along the way. First 2 sections all have wires running to the engine. Replaced the regulator/rectifier, would not do anything when I turned the key. Continuing to throw money at the problem, replaced the Solenoid, Starter and ignition switch…even though testing said they were not my issue. Batteries are good, fuse is good, safety stop is good. installed new plugs. I should note, never got an overheat alarm and water never reached the bottom of the plugs. Flywheel turns by hand, no leaks apparent anywhere indicating cracked block.

I am totally stumped even where to go next. Dealer will look at it but says before he does anything there is a 3 hour shop charge for testing. Shop charges are 135 plus tax in Canad. I did all these tests, wrote it all down. So looking for ideas on where to check before I put 400 wasted dollars into what I already know.

any help, thoughts, reasonable guesses would be appreciated, I’ll try anything. I am handy and mechanical and have an awesome set of tools.


thanks Dave

Your location ?-----Post actual compression values on this motor.

racerone said:

Your location ?-----Post actual compression values on this motor

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Northern Ontario. Compression was 130 to 140 3 weeks ago before it went in the water. Compression is the least of my worries at this point. I turn the key and absolutely nothing happens. Batteries were new 3 weeks ago, all electrical accessories work fine. Plugs were new and I replaced them again anyway.