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  1. Rivergator

    Overhauling my 1988 MerCruiser 4.3 ltr. engine

    This project is finished and the reaction to this thread has been wonderful. With your help I was able to restore this totally hopeless and neglected engine to its former glory. Here she is humming along just beautifully. Vital statistics are: Compression: #1=140, #2=150, #3=130, #4=140, #5=140...
  2. Rivergator

    Water on top of Intake Manifold

    I went about it systematically to see what was going on. Since I am restoring the boat and everything connected to it, I looked up my documentation to see what I did when I did it and all the intake manifold bolts were treated with sealant at the time as well as the manifold gasket and torqued...
  3. Rivergator

    Water on top of Intake Manifold

    I am noting all of these good tips here and I will get back to the boat on the weekend to do some testing and follow your suggestions. But I have some answers already. It's not a Vortec, no water in oil, no hatch or cover or other external source where water could come from, waterhose was turned...
  4. Rivergator

    Water on top of Intake Manifold

    Alright, all good pointers and suggestions. I will get to it asap and report back
  5. Rivergator

    Water on top of Intake Manifold

    After several years of restoring my 1988 Sylvan bow rider, Saturday finally came the big moment of truth. After some earlier preliminary quick dry starts to see if the 4.3 ltr engine actually fires up, which it did, Saturday was the day to see if it actually runs normally for at least 1/2 hour...
  6. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    Well, I am very happy to tell you all that the great TB IV ignition system is AAA OK. Nola Mike and Scott06 you were dead right from the start when you said that I needed to fix that 12 V problem on the coil first before I could proceed with the ignition test. Well, as you suggested, I jumped a...
  7. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    Your posts sound like telegrams from the 1850s where the Indians cut the wire in mid air - LOL. I am still trying to figure out what the hell you are trying to say. But never mind! I think I know what to do
  8. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    Sounds good Nola Mike and Scott06. I will do that. The article "How Mercruiser Thunderbolt ignition systems work" Great explanation and education how the system works. Thanks!
  9. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    Ok, I followed and checked the PURPLE wire starting at the coil to the alternator, then to the 5 gauges, then to the ignition key switch, all the while trying to scrape away possible corrosion by twisting and moving connections I could reach, which improved voltage quite a bit. The best reading...
  10. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    Nola, I am in the process of doing this. I will check the purple wire from the + side of the coil through all its connecting points back to the battery. I am curious though. I removed the ignition module and its on my bench. I checked the harness to make sure there are no broken wires in there...
  11. Rivergator

    No Spark on 1988 4.3 ltr. engine

    The engine has no spark on any of the 6 plugs. I pulled the plugs and had my wife crank the engine. I grounded each plug and visually checked for a spark, nothing. I even dared to touch the plug to see if I get zapped, nothing. Then I proceeded to follow the test procedure for the thunderbolt IV...
  12. Rivergator

    Oil Change Vacuum Merc Adapters

    That's the option I would do. But I have a 4.3 ltr engine, where the dip stick tube almost goes all the way down to the bottom of the oil pan. Once you suck all the oil out there may be a pint or less left which I carefully drain by opening the drain plug and catch it in a small container and...
  13. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Yes QBhoy you said it too, but with all the guessing going on on my part never having experienced the boat and not knowing what was done to it before and being kind of careful or call it timid giving that button a good second push it just took a little longer but in the end it all became clear...
  14. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Oh happy day - PROBLEM SOLVED. Thanks to all of your great suggestions and advise, especially to you dubs283. You took the time and really explained it all in detail which helped me a lot to sort it all out. Turns out you were most likely correct about the remote replacement. I believe that's...
  15. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Yes it was mentioned before by dubs283 and I tried it, but I didn't do a good enough job I am ashamed to admit. I guess I didn't expect that much resistance and obviously didn't push hard enough. I feel like a moron. Read my next post.
  16. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    The reason why I posted it I explained, because of all the confusion I have with my set up. I mistakenly said that the boat manual was from Sylvan. The manual that came with my 1988 boat actually was from MerCruiser and it showed the 3 button dash mount which of course was false. My boat dash...
  17. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Wow, bbooks83, you are a digger and pretty clever at that. Thanks for pulling up the brochure. I appreciate that. Unfortunately you can't see much but it does look different. Maybe the Barritz was different. Are you referring to the switch in the lower left corner in the grey area? When I toggle...
  18. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    1988. But as to the repower I don't think so. A year ago Mercuiser confirmed all serial numbers on my boat based on HIN and they match with what is in the boat now. We will get to the bottom of it sooner or later like we usually do.
  19. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Thanks Kenny and bbook83. Here is a picture of the shift handle which shows the built in up/down switch I believe is for the trailer, because I can see the symbol showing a boat on a trailer. Correct me if I am wrong. This function works fine. I believe all of this is original and the way it...
  20. Rivergator

    Power Trim Control Panel

    Thanks Alldodge. That will get me started. Now I know the flow of current and I will see if the broken wire is an incoming or outgoing wire. Normally the wire colors will point you in the right direction but it looks like Sylvan did a little bit of their own behind the dash but eventually I will...
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