Mercruiser 3.0 inboard engine starting trouble

1993 Mariah

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
10
Mercruiser 3.0 inboard engine -The boat was continually hard to start acting like not getting enough fuel and squealing it started and ran for a minute or so and the squeal stopped. then acted like choked out and died, I checked fuel line again main line is squirting fine into fuel filter checked filter had a little sediment, I cleaned out, restarted, same issue ran for a min then choked and died, checked filter again, clear, but fuel still coming from fuel line when disconected, reconnected all. I tried again. Harder to start each time. It keeps acting like not getting enough fuel. So tried to give it a little more fuel and a little more time to start. Finally my fear came true again, the starter burned out, again. Yep second time. Anyone know what the problem could be???
 

CapnMorgan

Cadet
Joined
Jul 9, 2010
Messages
13
Re: Mercruiser 3.0 inboard engine starting trouble

Check your points. My omc 5.0l was acting very similar this year and it turned out to be the points. I replaced them and she fires up quick and idles smoothly now. Also could be a problem in the carb, floats sticking, bad gasket, jet/circuit clogged, etc...
 

180shabah

Rear Admiral
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
4,995
Re: Mercruiser 3.0 inboard engine starting trouble

Well lets start with the basics:

Please describe your EXACT starting procedure...
 

1993 Mariah

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
10
Re: Mercruiser 3.0 inboard engine starting trouble

Well i attempted to start it in neutral all that happend was the sound of the starter trying to turn the engine over.

After that i pushed the throttle only button moved the gear shift forward fully to pump once. Then tried starting agian with the gear shift apx 1/4 in the forward position. Same thing except a small sputter.

So I tried to start it by pumping a few times to get more gas, and walla it turned over, and blew black smoke. When i tried to decrease the rpms and pull the shifter back a little, It died. So repeated the process this time when it started to die i pushed the shifter forward again, and pumped it a littlle did fine then died.

In between all this i noticed when the boat died it would try to start itself again until i turned the key to the off position. I did repeatedly check the fuel to see if it was getting fuel to the carb couldnt see any in there but, it was apparent at the top of the fuel line that feeds into the carb.
 
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