She won't start

[clasavi]

'98 350 mercruiser MPI EFI with bravo drive

i just put her all back together after installing a new intake manifold. yes, the rotor was pointing to the one plug. she turns over beautifully but wont crank. do i need to adjust the timing while i have the key on? i have installed a new starter and spark plugs. lastly, this is the first start up since last season!

 

[dubs283]

Re: She won't start

see here:

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...how-find-1-tdc-compression-stroke-427081.html

 

[Bondo]

Re: She won't start

'98 350 mercruiser MPI EFI with bravo drive

i just put her all back together after installing a new intake manifold. yes, the rotor was pointing to the one plug. she turns over beautifully but wont crank. do i need to adjust the timing while i have the key on? i have installed a new starter and spark plugs. lastly, this is the first start up since last season!

Ayuh,... Obviously the starter is doin' it's thing,...

Are the Spark Plugs, Sparkin',..??

 

[clasavi]

Re: She won't start

they are new plugs. how can i check if the spark plugs are sparking?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: She won't start

And do you have the correct firing order (e.g, all the plug wires on the correct plugs). Just because you have the rotor pointing at #1 plug wire does not mean you have the distributor installed correctly. Timing mark must be at zero with #1 cylinder on TDC with both valves closed. Now the rotor must point to #1 plug.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: She won't start

'98 350 mercruiser MPI EFI with bravo drive

i just put her all back together after installing a new intake manifold. yes, the rotor was pointing to the one plug. she turns over beautifully but wont crank. do i need to adjust the timing while i have the key on? i have installed a new starter and spark plugs. lastly, this is the first start up since last season!

Was the motor at tdc for the number one cyl on the compression stroke when you set the dist rotor to point at the number one plug? It's very easy to be 180* out with the dist, or pointing at the number one plug on the exhaust stroke put another way.

 

[Don S]

Re: She won't start

they are new plugs. how can i check if the spark plugs are sparking?

Pull the coil wire off of the distributor cap, hook it to a spark gap tester hooked to ground. You should have a bright blue spark that jumps a 3/8 to 1/2" gap.

Does the engine fire at all? Maybe backfire and try to stall?

To repeat the above, did you have the engine on #1 TDC ON The Compression Stroke when you installed the distributor?

Being EFI, you must make sure all the wiring is correct, and especially that all the grounds are hooked up. Since those grounds control the fuel pump and the ignition relays (if equipped)

What is the serial number of your engine. Year is close, but not close enough with MPI when it comes to wiring.

 

[clasavi]

Re: She won't start

well, i think i did everything correctly, the rotar pointed toward piston one. when i try to crank the motor, it turns, it sounds good and normal but i won't go all the way. perhaps i need some professional help at this point. So this morning, i went down to the marina and opened a tkt. i told them that she won't start and that the timing needed to be set. i also explained what i had done to the boat.

i hope its a simple adjustment and not a way for the mechanic to work up a $500 bill. that seems to be the history. moreover, i would want to know what i did wrong.... if i find out, i will post it otherwise thank you for all your help. hopefully they will have her ready by the time i return from china

 

[Don S]

Re: She won't start

the rotar pointed toward piston one.

That means nothing in itself. Was #1 at TDC on the compression or exhaust stroke. There is more to it than just pointing the rotor at a cylinder.

 

[dubs283]

Re: She won't start

well, i think i did everything correctly, the rotar pointed toward piston one. when i try to crank the motor, it turns, it sounds good and normal but i won't go all the way. perhaps i need some professional help at this point. So this morning, i went down to the marina and opened a tkt. i told them that she won't start and that the timing needed to be set. i also explained what i had done to the boat.

i hope its a simple adjustment and not a way for the mechanic to work up a $500 bill. that seems to be the history. moreover, i would want to know what i did wrong.... if i find out, i will post it otherwise thank you for all your help. hopefully they will have her ready by the time i return from china

click on the link i posted in post #2 and read through the instructions - then you will know how to set the distributor to #1 TDC