1996 Mercruiser 4.3LX starting problem

[Big Unit]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a 1996 Maxum with a mercruiser 4.3LX alpha one gen 2. I tried to start it last night and it didn't work. The engine is tumbling but no fire. I know that I should hear a sound from the fuel pump but nothing. I checked the fuse box and one of the 2 5amp fuse was burned. I replaced it and tried to start again and then checked the new fuse. Same result: burned. I looked at the fuel pump wiring and followed it. There is 2 wires: purple and black. The black one end up on a crimped loop and the other one on a connector. Both were'nt connected...they were just lying there on the top of the engine. I didn't have another fuse to test if this wire was causing a ''ground''. Should these wires be connected somewhere?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: 1996 Mercruiser 4.3LX starting problem

Need a serial number for your engine. Year of your boat just isn't good enough.
Since you could have a 95 or 96 engine in a 96 boat, they would both have a Thunderbolt V ignition system, that purple wire is probably a purple with a white stripe wire needed to put the ignition into base timing mode and should not be hooked up. There also may be extra ground terminals (black wires) not used on your particular model.