Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

[searay185owner]

I just got a brand new (left over from 2008) sea ray 185 with a 4.3 TKS. When the boat is cold, TKS works like a charm and starts with a quick key blip. The same is true when the engine is warmed up and is stopped and instantly restarted. But if the motor is warmed up, and the boat is turned off for more than 30 seconds, it will crank for well over 30 seconds before starting. Does anyone else have this problem? What should I tell the dealer? Super annoying for water sports. Thanks.

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

Tell him just what you told us. It's brand new, he should fix it with no problem. Good luck and congrats on the new boat.

 

[searay185owner]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

It sounds to me like vapor lock. But it wan't very hot and I kept the blower running. I will try to bring the boat to him next weekend but i want to fix it in one trip. Any ideas?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

I doubt your getting vapor lock on an 08 boat. Thats more of an older boat thing in which the engine runs very hot and/or the doghouse isn't ventiallted properlly and the temps are to high in the engine compartment.

Are you letting the engine idle for a minute or 2 after a hard run (and towing a skiier/tuber/boarder is considered a hard run) before shutting it off? If not, your supposed to.
BTW you shouldn't be cranking this thing for 30 seconds at a time. Your damaging your starter if you are. It's max 10 seconds of cranking time followed by a 1 minutes cool down. But it all reality, if it doesn't fire in the first 3 or 4 seconds of cranking there is something else wrong. Try idleing the motor first for a couple minutes before shutting down and let us know how you make out.

I know it's a pain for watersports.... but if that's what you do the most you should have gotten an EFI.

 

[Don S]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

You need to take it back to the dealer for warranty work. You could possibly have problems with the TKS system. Here is a link to a service bulletin about testing the diode, which could be your problem.

http://dc136.4shared.com/download/121014585/2bb6ba11/06-04_Troubleshooting_the_TKS_Diode.pdf

 

[searay185owner]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

Thanks for the reply. I am going to bring it in and see if the dealer can figure it out. I know it's bad for the starter, but it will not restart in 10 seconds or less no matter how many times I crank it. I will post the fix if they are able to figure it out.

 

[searay185owner]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

well, the dealer had it for two weeks and threw a bunch of parts at it. They included mercruiser reps in the troubleshooting and the problem still exists. The motor is clearly flooding out after the boat is shutdown and it gets worse the longer the boat is off. When it's been sitting for an hour or so it takes WOT and a long crank to start, and it stinks of gas after it finally fires up. I guess the next step is to demand a whole new carb?

 

[diehard]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

i wonder it being a new moter with excelent oil presure your fuel pump is turned on by oil presure switch ..i have seen when you shut your engine off the fuel pump keeps running cause there is still oil pressure at switch ... i also had a fuel injected engine when i went to start it if it did not start right up when cranking it over .. i would turn the key all the way off and would start right up ? ... i have never owned a new boat so being new i would not touch any thing other than the key

 

[diehard]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

well, the dealer had it for two weeks and threw a bunch of parts at it. They included mercruiser reps in the troubleshooting and the problem still exists. The motor is clearly flooding out after the boat is shutdown and it gets worse the longer the boat is off. When it's been sitting for an hour or so it takes WOT and a long crank to start, and it stinks of gas after it finally fires up. I guess the next step is to demand a whole new carb?[/ QUOTE]

does it have a carb or fuel injected ? how full is your fuel tank could be creating a sypin flooding your engine look at the level of your engine compared to your fuel tank .. a new boat you never know if it is a bad design or not ?

 

[Don S]

Re: Brand New 4.3 TKS won't start hot after a short delay

does it have a carb or fuel injected ?

It's a carb, that is what a TKS system is. Turn Key Start.

Here is the Service Manual for that system.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/13183831/c6940ff5/Merc_SM_41_TKS.html