No spark, fuel gage erratic, alarm humming

[grandx]

OK, here goes, I have a pair of 1996 V6 150's with (2) batteries: The starboard engine charges battery (1), which powers all accesories. <br /><br />Last trip out the overheat alarm was sounding (faintly, not full strength)... I replaced the buzzer before going out this weekend (still sounded faintly) temp OK. Starboard engine was very difficult to start at the ramp but finally did, after so much cranking it smelled of fuel and smoked badly when started, I later related this to an electrical and not fuel problem.<br /><br />Fished all day, trolling with one engine, swapping back and forth between 1 and 2 all day. Starboard engine never missed a start all day. Noticed I was doing real well on fuel, gage at 3/4 tank all day, later realized it just wasn't working (gage and sender are the resistor type, which are electrically powered by starboard engine and battery 1). Caught 9 dorado, and one blackfin tuna. On the way home from 40 miles out, I thought I smelled burning wires!!! opened the dash to take a look and found nothing, both engines still running fine, all accesories working, the burning I thought I smelled disappeared. I continued home. <br /><br />Returned safely, trailered boat, cleaned fish, fueled boat, washed down everything at carwash then tried to flush engines... Port no problem, Starboard wiould not start... <br /><br />Next morning, found I had no spark, Engine cranks, but does not fire (at least on #1 plug). Without a manual or time, I tried a few things like removing kill switch circuit, still nothing.<br /><br />I'm now looking for your best guesses, The major question is why no spark, I threw in the alarm, and fuel gage because I feel they are all somehow related.<br /><br />All comments welcomed.

 

[marinegrh]

Re: No spark, fuel gage erratic, alarm humming

ok, lets get a service manual, every engine i work on i shoot compression and fire at the same time, you may want to do this, you need a decent compression gague and a spark tester able to jump at least a 7/16 gap, if still no spark, eliminate the keyswitch as the problem by unplugging it and re crank the engine,you will have to jump the solenoid, if still no fire, you will need to conduct stator trigger and switch box tests , this is where the manual comes in, the alarm system will be covered in the manual also, but make sure you dont have a worn out ring gear on the oil pump, its crank driven, could be as simple as a warning module or more complex as a bad switch box, you will have to do these tests, look behind your ignition plate for those burnt wires, its where your reg/rects are located. the fuel gague, well only 2 items there process of elimination, check continuity . <br /><br />keep us infoed

 

[grandx]

Re: No spark, fuel gage erratic, alarm humming

OK, Marinegrh<br />I've got all the above, compression gage, spark gap tester, and (2) service manuals Clymer and Merc. At this point I can't see the need for the compresson gage, with these symptoms. I've browsed some trouble shoot procedures, just wanted to know if any of you mercsperts can see any relation with the isssues I'm having, may not be any. <br /><br />The possible burned wires, I would expect to be under the console as I thought I smelled something while travling at 28 knts, and the motors are 12' behind me... even with the possible burned wire, nothing quit working at that point, traveled another 10 miles, put boat on trailer, killed engines, then I even restarted both to push boat up a little further on trailer. <br /><br />Any Ideas?