1989 175 mercury black max wont start

[shankforce]

If someone could assist. I have a v6 175 mercury black max. My motor shut down abruptly while cruising 3/4 throtle. The motor would not start after the starter turns but no start. I noticed while running the telltale was weak. No overheat alarms were present but the oil alarm was going on and off. I checked the oil and it was full in the top tank the float in the top tank is new. The motor seems to be getting gas and I changed the plugs still no start. I do have a manual that I have been reading but I cant find any troubleshooting for this. I have 2 batteries 1 new and 1 old but they seem strong. Could my motor have seized? I didnt think it would try to turn over it it did.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Have you checked for spark?

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

I am going to check that today too hard to do by myself. If there is spark or there is no spark what would the next step be so I can check that also. I have a decent digital meter to do checks with. What I am trying to avoid is all the marine mechanics in the Tampa area charge a arm and leg to work on your motor so I only like to take it in if it is some kind of tear down of the motor. I dont want to pay over $1000 to replace a couple parts I could have for $200 and a few hours time.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Actually My motor looks like a 1988 from the serial # starts with 0B.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Check the kill circuit. You might have just bumped the switch on the back of the controls to the off position, or something could have shorted anywhere in that circuit.

On the beeping thing. Beeps mean something is wrong. To run that engine with no oil, and a low budget would mean your boating days are over. Be sure you get a manual and follow the instructions for troubleshooting oil alert alarms, which include putting oil in your gasoline until you solve the problem.

If the oil alert has been sounding off, maybe the first thing you should do is a compression test. Maybe there's not enough left to bother with.

hope it helps
John

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

I did research the beeps the motor was getting oil before it stoped it was smoking and the top tank was full. Like I said the motor stopped suddenly after running fine. As for compression the motor was strong before this happened if it was on its last leg I think it would be acting like it. There is not a lot of hours on the motor it was my dads he did not use it much.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

4 tools you will find valuable in troubleshooting this problem and any future problems. They are a wise investment for anyone wanting to do much of their own work to save money.

Remote starter button with leads

Adjustable spark gap tester

Compression Tester

DVA Meter or a quality VOM with a DVA Adaptor

And a spark plug wrench, of course.

Remove all spark plugs, attached wires to the spark tester, connect remote starter switch, turn key ON, test compression on each cylinder while observing for spark.

These two test together will give you a good indication to the general health of your cylinders and ignition system. If both check correctly then you can be pretty sure that your problem is within the fuel delivery system.

If either test is poor or fails then pursue further testing in that direction.

Repost your findings.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

It doesnt look like I have any spark. After testing with the ajustable spark tester on 3 of the spark cables no spark on any of them. I did try disconnecting the kill switch at the console and had no results. I couldnt find the on off switch at the engine. I didnt get to the compression yet it got dark too quick on me yesterday. what gage wire do you use on your remote start switch mine would not turn starter kind of like not enuff connection I had to start it from the ignition on the console to test the spark wires.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Use the remote starter switch to trigger the starter RELAY, not directly to the starter itself.

There is no switch at the engine.

You can disconnect the kill circuit to see if a short there has killed your ignition by disconnecting the Black wire with the Yellow Trace where they plug into the ignition modules from the wiring harness. If disconnecting restores spark the use an ohmmeter and begin testing your wiring harness Black wire with Yellow Trace to ground and find the short and correct it.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

At the ignition are you talking about at the helm or the engine? There were 2 black,yellow wires connected to the kill switch. I tried starting with 1 or the other on or both off with no results. Does it have to be taken off at the engine?

 

[hkeiner]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

I suggest that you disconnect the kill wires at the switch boxes. This way you are certain that these wires are not grounding the switch boxes due to a short. A wiring diagram for your motor would clarify which wires do what and which ones should be removed for this test. I attached a pic of the wiring diagram for my motor as an example. It may or may not match your motor exactly, but it may help you understand the excellent advice your are getting from others that have already responded to you questions.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Thanks I have a simular diagram for my motor I think it may have the wires labeled. It sounds right about the short from the switch box I will truouble shoot that next. Here is a dumb question is their any sensor that will kill the motor? I know some of the new ones have it.

 

[hkeiner]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

The tilt switch is supposed to ground the switch box (i.e., close the circuit to ground) if the motor is raised too high. This is a safety design. If the tilt switch is defective or adjusted incorrectly, it could be grounding the switch boxes when it should not be doing so. Of course, disconnecting the kill wires at the switch box is the first thing to try to see if the kill wire(s) connected to the switch boxes are causing the problem.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

You were spot on the mercury tilt/kill switch was shorting the motor. I disconected it and it started up. Another question are you supposed to wait after you spray carb cleaner in the carbs? After I sprayed the cleaner the motor did not want to turn over. I am going to order a new tilt switch and install it.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

You were spot on the mercury tilt/kill switch was shorting the motor. I disconected it and it started up. Another question are you supposed to wait after you spray carb cleaner in the carbs? After I sprayed the cleaner the motor did not want to turn over. I am going to order a new tilt switch and install it.

That motor is oiled by oil carried in by the fuel. When you spray carb cleaner or starting fluid in the carbs, it washes the oil off. You will be very lucky if you did not do some serious harm to the engine.

John

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

What do you mean by serious harm? Like blowing a hole in the piston. If the motor did not start after I sprayed it how would that happen? The only time I ever heard of that is from people using a lot of starting spray. As in all the time.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

What do you mean by "did not want to turn over."

I'm just trying to help. Don't want to argue.

John

 

[hkeiner]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

What do you mean by serious harm? Like blowing a hole in the piston. If the motor did not start after I sprayed it how would that happen?

I think it is more a matter of adding years of wear onto the cylinder walls, rings, bearings, etc. due to the added abraision, as well as added corrosion on internal bare metal surfaces. This is not something you may likely see or notice immediately. The unknown is exactly how much damage will result from the use of a given amount of non-lubricated starting spray. Most think it prudent to never use it at all and to provide helpfull advice (such as by j_martin) to those that do so without knowing the possible consequences.

 

[shankforce]

Re: 1989 175 mercury black max wont start

Well I got the motor running good thanks for all the help. No more oil alarm smoking good excellent tell tale. Still waiting on my mercury switch should be in the mail soon.