1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette lighter

[seada]

My 1988 21' sea ray seville mc with a 4.3l v6 4bbl rochester carb starts and runs great. Shifts in FWD and Reverse no problem. When i get out on the lake and go WOT the engine dies down (flooding) smell gas behind the boat. If i push my trim tab buttons or move the outdrive up or down or even push in the cigarette lighter i get a power surge and the boat will try to plane, then it will just die down again. I cleaned my fuel tank out (removed from boat) new water fuel seperator. Brand new rochester carburetor. New fuel pump. Plugs, wires, cap and rotor. New battery. Timing is 8 degrees BTDC. Compression test 150 to 160 every cylinder. HELP!! going broke.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

That is a tough problem. I had that exact powertrain in my '88 SR Sorrento, but I have no ideas for you. of course it sounds electrical. Why not post this in the I/O forum? Maybe one of those experts can help. Does that motor have centrifical distributor advance? I cannot remember. If it does, is it working, or did it just rust up?

 

[seada]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

The ignition system is the thunderbolt IV with the ignition amplifier mounted on the exhaust manifold not the ditributor.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

You don't have a distributor on that motor? My '88 4.3LX sure did. It too had the amplifier on the manifold, but had a reluctor and sensor under the distributor cap. The distributor was behind the carb.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

All three of the '88 4.3L Mercruisers I just looked up had a distributor. They seem to be a bit different than I remember, since it looked like the ign sensor was a hall effect, rather than a reluctor, like I remember.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

Weak batteries, loose belts, loose or corroded battery terminals, poor battery cables, failing alternator can all cause the problem.

 

[series60]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

My 1988 21' sea ray seville mc with a 4.3l v6 4bbl rochester carb starts and runs great. Shifts in FWD and Reverse no problem. When i get out on the lake and go WOT the engine dies down (flooding) smell gas behind the boat. If i push my trim tab buttons or move the outdrive up or down or even push in the cigarette lighter i get a power surge and the boat will try to plane, then it will just die down again. I cleaned my fuel tank out (removed from boat) new water fuel seperator. Brand new rochester carburetor. New fuel pump. Plugs, wires, cap and rotor. New battery. Timing is 8 degrees BTDC. Compression test 150 to 160 every cylinder. HELP!! going broke.

I see two or more problems here. 1: electrical issues - clean or renew all connections. 2: carb flooding
If the carb is flooding the engine then one would think there is a problem with the carb regardless if it is new or not. Could be a sticky float value. Fuel pump may be pushing too much fuel flow. Check fuel pressure. Should be in the neighborhood of 5-6psi. DO NOT launch until the flooding problem is solved. You have all the ingredients of a BOMB! Think about it - engine floods and dies - you hit the starter or push in the cigarette lighter or hit the trim (remember the trim pump is usually located in the back of the engine compartment which has large solenoids which make BIG contact sparks) -BOOM!

 

[seada]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

I would tend to think it would be the carb also, but the new carb is doing the exact same thing as the old carb. I replaced the fuel pump with a brand new fuel pump (mercruiser $181.00) this did not change anything either. I am going to take Don.S's suggestion and check my alternator. I have checked all of my wiring and read voltages across everything -except the alternator-. I have even disconnected my tachometer and anything else electrical that is not needed or added that is not stock.

 

[seada]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

My distributor has the hall effect ignition sensor.

 

[seada]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

I Just wanted to give an update from my July 10th post. Finally after several weeks and a thousand dollars i figured out the problem. The audio warning buzzer was shorting out my distributor/Coil.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: 1988 sea ray wont plane, power surge when activating trim tabs or cigarette light

So was the buzzer bad? Or was there a bare connection?
Stinks that you did all that stuff, but I bet the boat runs great.