Stubborn Mariner

[jambo]

I have a 1997 150hp V6 and since it has come to be mine ( 6 years ago)I have never experienced good starting. It is ok from hot but cold I usually get when turning the ket a whir then an elongated click, sometimes if I am lucky it will start after 6-10 atemps, bloody frustrating. Does anybody else suffer the same problem with their Mariner, if not what do you do as a starting sequence? This engine is well maintain and serviced every year. The bats I have are two 120ah Squadron marine. I was wondering if the engine is not charging my batteries and therefore there is not enough power to turn on starting from cold.
AS you can see I am annoyed as I was left on the rib with nowhere to go yesterday!!

[outboardtech]

Hi , what are the COMPRESSIONS ?????

[chewy]

My Yam 55 is like that, once its fired though its fine, never bothered looking in to it....

[jambo]

Originally Posted by outboardtech

Hi , what are the COMPRESSIONS ?????

Sorry outboardman I do not have a clue!!! But if you think it is a afult I will get them checked at the winter service.

[uncle al]

morning
if you want to give me a ring or send your phone number to me i will try to talk you through the possible causes if it is any help to you.
regards
alan
01869 326411
alan.surman@barrus.co.uk

[9D280]

Do you use the fast idle lever?

May seem like a daft Q, bnut I discovered that my "choke" is actually an enrichening valve, i.e. instead of cutting air, it chucks more fuel in.

Net result is that if I use the fast idle lever, it opens the throttle, allowing more air in & cancels the "choke" effect of afdding more fuel.

Used to take forever to get going until that dawned on me. Since then I start it on choke alone. - Fires almost instantly from cold - guaranteed.


That is of course all irrelevant if your choke lever / solenoid moves a flap across the airways!

[simsy]

Put a dc volt meter on the starter motor main red cable and ground. At cranking the voltage eshould be around 11 vdc or more. (use no choke or throttle when cold, so it does not start for this test, or ground ht cables. )

If the voltage is nice and high, and it does not turn over great look at; solenoid , starter motor or ring gears

If the voltage is too low on the starter motor when craqnking ; look at battery voltage when cranking, it too should be 12 vdc or more when cranking. If not, its not chargered or faulty..

[jyasaki]

I assume the motor doesn't crank while it's whirring?

Whir and click sounds like a sticky solenoid. The whir is the starter motor turning with no load, and the click is the solenoid kicking the gear into the flywheel teeth.

As a couple of guesses, I would suspect either the solenoid itself, or a poor electrical connection to the solenoid coil.

jky

[jambo]

Cheers guys I will check all the suggestions when I am next up at the rib which will be 8th Oct and post the results here.
Many thanks

J

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Do you use the fast idle lever?

And another daft one .. I take you push the key 'inwards' too when turning to start ? as that used to be what overfuelled mine when cold

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

And another daft one .. I take you push the key 'inwards' too when turning to start ? as that used to be what overfuelled mine when cold

Good evening Mr Big! Yes I do and that I think maybe my problem. So I am off to check bat connections, solenoid and pinion. Then I will start with only the choke. I will report back soonest.

J

[jambo]

Well folks I have been at the boat and have put into action all points made re my problem and here are the result!!

First ly the bat terminals not satisfactory not clean connections at posts, starter therefore not getting full power hence the click and whir. Starter looks ok pinion ok and connections ok but will grt it stripped down at service. But here is the biggy thanks to Uncle Al, when it eventually started I could hardly see the enginer for blue smoke and it sounded as if it was missing!! BTW still didnt start by choke it just flooded waitedf and did the throttle method.Took it out for an hour running fine, took plugs out and everyone was black and the holes were wet, got it mixture all to hell I think!!!
Thanks for all your help guys and any other comments will be gratefully received. Boat now out for winter!

[uncle al]

hi Jambo
if it is any help the carb mixture screw setting is,
1-1/2 turns +/- 1/4 turn from lightly seated, keep it on the rich side even if it runs better slightly lean
service manual p/n 90-8240052r3 available from any merc/mar dealer any further help wanted just get in contact,
give your obm a good run on the water to clear any puddled fuel in the crankcase before setting timing ect.
alan
01869 32641

[jambo]

Originally Posted by uncle al

hi Jambo
if it is any help the carb mixture screw setting is,
1-1/2 turns +/- 1/4 turn from lightly seated, keep it on the rich side even if it runs better slightly lean
service manual p/n 90-8240052r3 available from any merc/mar dealer any further help wanted just get in contact,
give your obm a good run on the water to clear any puddled fuel in the crankcase before setting timing ect.
alan
01869 32641

Hi Al tx When I took her out the water I actually nipped the fuel line so it ran til no fuel therefore the carbs etc are clean.
Tx

[ADI]

I've worked on loads of V6 Merc / Mariners and it 's usually ( if your sure the battery's ok) the battery leads or the starter motor's not turning the engine over fast enough to start when cold.
When cold they fire up then cut out and so on. You need a good cranking starter to get them to fire from cold.

Is the starter motor the original ?

[jambo]

[QUOTE=ADI;375490] I've worked on loads of V6 Merc / Mariners and it 's usually ( if your sure the battery's ok) the battery leads or the starter motor's not turning the engine over fast enough to start when cold.
When cold they fire up then cut out and so on. You need a good cranking starter to get them to fire from cold.

Is the starter motor the original ? [/QUO

Hi ADI tx for your comment. Batts still charging full now have then home and have just finished a three phase charge and there both over 13vlts. The battery leads were renewed 2 years ago from bats to engine. If you have looked at the thread from start you will have gathered that we have talked about the starter!! I never think it is ok and I am going to get it stripped down over the winter. Yes it is the original do you think it is due a new one?
Where abouts are you in Scotland/

[ADI]

Don't bother stripping it down and fitting new brushes etc, It won't be any better.

Just buy a new one. Not a Merc Mariner one, they are too.... expensive. PM me and I will tell you wher to get one.