Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

[shute420]

Well I finally had the chance to take my boat out over the weekend for the first time since winterizing. Its an 89 Arriva 2050, 5.0 Merc with alpha outdrive. I ran it in the driveway the day before for a while to flush out any antifreeze, started right up on the second turn of the key.

Anyways, we got to the river at about 10:30, launched and started her up, ran good, sounded good, I did feel a little sputter here and there, but figured it was just clearing the bugs out of the system, so we cruised a little bit, then went to our spot at one of the beaches, anchored and hung out for the afternoon.

It got to be 3pm, and we headed back to the Marina, got about a half mile and I felt more sputtering in the throttle, almost felt like it was dragging, I gave it more gas and it bogged down and stalled. Tried starting her and it started and idled for about 2 seconds and stalled again when I gave ot more gas, tried again and started, gave it more gas right away to move and stalled again and this time wouldnt start again. Luckily we were close to the Marina at that time and we flagged down a fellow boater and they towed us in. Some boaters are great and always willing to help out.

My question is, where should I start to look for any problem?....My thoughts are, possible fuel filter, fuel pump?? seems like it wasnt getting fuel or something got clogged. I dont know, maybe I'm way off base too, thats why I'm hear asking for help.

By no means am I a mechanic but I am capable of looking for and possibly fixing some problems before I go to an expert mechanic.

your thoughts, please?

 

[IES99]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

Start with fuel filter. Happened to me.

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

more to the story......hooked it up to the muffs today and it started right up.....hmmmm, interesting......sometimes i just dont get how things work...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

sometimes i just dont get how things work...

Ayuh,... Start with the fuel filter anyways,...
Dump the contents into a much large vessel examine for Water or other Trash...

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

checked the fuel filters changes the fuel/water seperator, all seemed ok.....started it and ran it every day for the past week and ran good...?.......i will find out tomorrow how it is when its not just in the driveway with muffs on

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

ok, so now i need more direction on what to look for....

1st....i launched today around 11am....started right up, ran find allllll day...cruised here and there, up the river, down the river and all was good.......until we started in towards the marina....

crusing along and i let a jetski pass so i could pull in....he passed, went over his wake, gave it some gas and....dies!!...turned the key and got nothing!...nothing at all...battery was good, everything else worked, but i got nothing when i turned the key....not even a click....trim worked, radio worked...but none of the gauges worked....


short somewhere??....i dont know where to start!....

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

Shute,

I would first start by checking your battery cable connections to the block and starter for corrosion. Clean them up with a wire brush and then coat them with battery terminal sealer, or an appropriate paint if necessary. I haven't owned any MerCrusers, but I have had friends with them, and a common problem is the main engine harness connector pins/terminals getting corroded , especially if the boat lives in salt water. It might be worth the risk to separate the harness connector, and take a look at the pins. If they are a little bit corroded you may be able to clean them up (pack w/dielectric grease after). If they are allot a bit corroded you may need to replace the connector(s), or hardwire the harness/ individual offending wires (bearing in mind hardwiring will make it more difficult if you need to remove the engine for any reason). A test light/DVOM/or power probe (if you want to get fancy) along with a buddy, wife, or competent kid (to cycle the ignition key), may help in trouble shooting where your voltage drop (or entire lack of voltage) may be. A good wiring schematic is a must if you need to start chasing wires. For all you know, your hickups and suspected fuel issues may have been wiring problems the whole time.

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

the main engine harness assembly looked ok, no corrosion at all, I did find where 2 of the wires got burnt thru and probably shorted out, but i fixed those and still nothing, I definitely thought that was the issue, the wires were burned right thru......

Do I need to reset the 50A circuit breaker?? If so, I cant seem to push it in.....?? Its stuck, and I obviously need a new one

Going to check the starter connections next....

any thoughts?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

I would follow up W/ the 50A breaker. If it truly popped, and you can't reset it, then its a concern that should be dealt with. You can bypass the breaker, to see if you get power back. I would recommend getting an automotive style individual fuse holder, and jump the wires going to the breaker W/ the fuse holder (a 30-40 amp fuse in the holder will work fine for the test). If things power up with the jumper fuse in place, then the breaker is suspect. Also do you know what the wires that burnt go to? A wiring schematic to find out if the 50A breaker is involved with those wires would help.

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

starter connections looked ok....should be getting my new 50A circuit breaker today or tomorrow,....hopefully after I hook that up and reset it, I might be ok....havent tried to bypass, really havent had the time lately, I havent looked at it in about a week so right now, I cant remember what the wires that were burnt went to but i do know one was pink, one was purple and the other was...gray

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

The key is to just stay out on the water. Obviously she wants to stay and play!

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

Check the ignition switch, on the back where the wires bolt up. mine came loose the other day while boating and it would cut out when i hit a wake and sometimes not start. all it was is a loose wire.

 

[shute420]

Re: Motor died....merc 5.0, where should I start?

The key is to just stay out on the water. Obviously she wants to stay and play!

haha....thats what the we've been saying all along! I think she just wants to stay out longer and longer...lol