Starter Motor Will Not Crank Engine, Or Cranks Slow; Engine Will Not Start Or Is Hard To Start; Engine Runs Rough, Misses Or Backfires; Poor Performance - MerCruiser 4.3L TKS Sterndrive Owner's Manual

Section 7 - Troubleshooting

Starter Motor Will Not Crank Engine, Or Cranks Slow

Possible Cause
Battery switch turned off.
Remote control not in neutral position.
Open circuit breaker or blown fuse.
Loose or dirty electrical connections or damaged
wiring.
Bad battery or low battery voltage.
Lanyard stop switch activated.

Engine Will Not Start Or Is Hard To Start

Possible Cause
Lanyard stop switch activated.
Improper starting procedure.
Insufficient fuel supply.
Engine flooded.
Faulty ignition system component.
Clogged fuel filter.
Stale or contaminated fuel.
Fuel line or tank vent line kinked or clogged. Replace kinked lines or blow out lines with compressed air to remove obstruction.
Faulty wire connections.
TKS fuse blown.

Engine Runs Rough, Misses or Backfires

Possible Cause
Clogged fuel filter.
Stale or contaminated fuel.
Kinked or clogged fuel line or fuel tank vent line.
Flame Arrestor dirty.
Faulty ignition system component.

Poor Performance

Possible Cause
Throttle not fully open.
Damaged or improper propeller.
Excessive bilge water.
Boat overloaded or load improperly distributed.
Flame arrestor dirty.
Boat bottom fouled or damaged.
Ignition problem.
Engine overheating.
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Turn the switch on.
Position the control lever in neutral.
Check and reset the circuit breaker or replace fuse.
Check all electrical connections and wires (especially battery cables).
Clean and tighten all faulty connections.
Test the battery and charge if necessary; replace if bad.
Check the lanyard stop switch.
Check the lanyard stop switch.
Read the starting procedure.
Fill fuel tank or open valve.
Turn the key switch off and wait 5 minutes. Push the throttle only button, push
the remote control handle/throttle lever to the 1/4 throttle position, and attempt to
restart.
Service the ignition system.
Replace fuel filter.
Drain fuel tank. Fill with fresh fuel.
Check wire connections.
Check TKS fuse. Replace the fuse if blown.
Replace filter.
If contaminated, drain tank. Fill with fresh fuel.
Replace kinked lines or blow out lines with compressed air to remove
obstruction.
Clean Flame Arrestor.
Service ignition system.
Inspect the throttle cable and linkages for proper operation.
Replace the propeller.
Drain and check for cause of entry.
Reduce load or redistribute load more evenly.
Clean the flame arrestor.
Clean or repair as necessary.
See Engine Runs Rough, Misses or Backfires.
See Excessive Engine Temperature.
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
90-8M0053265 NOVEMBER 2010