1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

[mlkweedp]

Help!, My boat wont start, we adjusted the points, replaced plugs and plug wires, brand new battery, sprayed engine start in and put gas in but it wont start. Sometimes it just clicks. Any suggestions? Sometimes it trys to start but doesnt.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

we adjusted the points

Welcome aboard!

If this is the first time you are trying to start it after a long lay up, the chances are good it is your points. Especially since it is not doing anything with the "engine start spray." (By the way, you need to do away with that product - it will do more harm than good and should never be needed).

I suggest simply replacing the points. Not adjusting them.

You can try filing them first... but you will need to replace them anyway. Good luck!

 

[tschmidty]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

Not enough info. The just clicking is either bad grounding to the starter or the relay going bad. Could be not enough fuel, too much fuel, or bad fuel. Could be your points and or timing. Could be a bad flux capacitor.

Fuel, compression and spark are all you need. Check that you are getting good spark at the right time. Check for fuel, take the flame arrestor off and look in the carb, are you getting gas? Too much? How long has the gas sat there? Is it bad? Last thing would be a compression test.

 

[mlkweedp]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

Welcome aboard!

If this is the first time you are trying to start it after a long lay up, the chances are good it is your points. Especially since it is not doing anything with the "engine start spray." (By the way, you need to do away with that product - it will do more harm than good and should never be needed).

I suggest simply replacing the points. Not adjusting them.

You can try filing them first... but you will need to replace them anyway. Good luck!

Thanks alot, I'm new to this so I need to read up on how to change the points.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

You will need some tools to do so. At the very least a set of feeler gauges. You also need a dwell meter and timing light.

Having said that, back "in the day" - when points style ignition were all there was - I only used feeler gauges to set the gap, and never messed with the dwell.

But to do it right, you install the new points, making sure they are setting on the top of the lobe in the distributor. Adjust the gap according to specs. Then you "fine tune it" by setting the dwell. THEN you set the timing.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

If it just clicks then u have a low battery, bad connections to the starter or battery, or the starter is shot. Charge the battery & check the above connections. If it still just clicks, then u probably have a bad starter. By the way, do the accesories such as bilge blower, lights, etc. work?

 

[mlkweedp]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

If it just clicks then u have a low battery, bad connections to the starter or battery, or the starter is shot. Charge the battery & check the above connections. If it still just clicks, then u probably have a bad starter. By the way, do the accesories such as bilge blower, lights, etc. work?

Yes everything else works, brand new battery, it trys to start then just clicks, we took the starter off and had auto zone test it and they said it passed but was making some noises. Not sure if it is creating enough force to turn the flywheel over.

 

[mlkweedp]

Re: 1985 Mercruiser 3.0 Wont Start Help

Yes everything else works, brand new battery, it trys to start then just clicks, we took the starter off and had auto zone test it and they said it passed but was making some noises. Not sure if it is creating enough force to turn the flywheel over.