Starting Problems

[grarrsmi]

I have a 1990 Mercruiser 3.0 I/O. When I start the engine it takes a few minutes in high idle to get it warmed up or it will stall at regular idle. Than when I go in reverse to foward, the boat stalls and takes a few minutes to get it started again. The last time I had it out on the water, I had to wait about 20 minutes to get it started again. What can it be?

 

[presley2]

Re: Starting Problems

From the information you provided there could be a number of issues causing your problem and any suggestions would be a bit of a guess. More information about your symptoms would be helpful.

Raising the engine RPMs some for warm up is not necessary abnormal on a carbureted engine.

After warm up with the throttle shifter handle in the neutral position does the engine idle smoothly?

Does the engine die when you shift into any gear at an idle speed or will it go onto one gear ok and idle but stall when shifting into the other gear?

If the boat is in a safe place to do this can you --------
Shift it into gear really fast and give it a lot of throttle to keep it going? Basically put it in gear and floor it. Does it still stall?

Is the gas more than ten months old?

One possibility if the engine is idling rough at slow speed and stalling when you go into gear the carburetor might be flooding over. Look and see if fuel is coming out of the overflow on the top of the carburetor.

If the engine dies when only shifting into or out of just one gear you may have a stretched shift cable.

More info will help but this is a start.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Starting Problems

What is your boat idling at? In the water?

 

[grarrsmi]

Re: Starting Problems

After warm up with the throttle shifter handle in the neutral position does the engine idle smoothly?

Q-Does the engine die when you shift into any gear at an idle speed or will it go onto one gear ok and idle but stall when shifting into the other gear?

A-It will only stall when going from reverse to foward. Like when you pull away from a dock than put in foward to get going. Once going it will run fine.

Q-Shift it into gear really fast and give it a lot of throttle to keep it going? Basically put it in gear and floor it. Does it still stall?

A-Must of the time it is hard to do this but if I am not so quick with it, it will still try to stall.

Q-Is the gas more than ten months old?

A- No

Q-One possibility if the engine is idling rough at slow speed and stalling when you go into gear the carburetor might be flooding over. Look and see if fuel is coming out of the overflow on the top of the carburetor.

If the engine dies when only shifting into or out of just one gear you may have a stretched shift cable.

A-I can't check right now what my idle speed is due to lakes still being iced over. I will check that when I can. I am thinking maybe the carb is getting flooded once out of idle. It seems to idle good once it is warmed up but will still stall putting it in reverse. Does this help or do I need more info to get an answer.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Starting Problems

It sounds like a couple of things...

First - do a complete tune up.

Second - the stalling issue sounds like a typical lower shift cable. The shift interupt switch engages when shifting out of gear and if the cable gets a little stiff it takes more effort and consequently the switch engages longer and causes the engine to die. Time the replace, or at least check, the shift cable.