HAVING TROUBLE STARTING BOAT

[ROOKIE02]

I NEED YOUR ADVICE, IM HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY 86 RANGER WITH I BELIEVE 86 MECURY/MARINER BLACKMAX 175

WITH OLD BATTERIES HAD REALLY HARD TIME CRANKING OVER.

NOW WITH NEW BATTERY STARTED FINE AS SOON AS IT WAS ON THE LAKE, STARTED FINE THE WHOLE TIME ON THE LAKE, AFTER FISHING AS NIGHT FALLS I TRIED STARTING AND DID CRANK OVER 2 MORE TIMES AND IT STARTS, AS WE GET BACK TO THE DOCK/LOADED HALF WAYS I NEEDED TO START IT TO LOAD IT ON IT DID NOT WANT TO START LIGHTS WENT DIM, TRIED 3 MORE TIMES DID NOT WANT TO CRANK OVER, ONE MORE TIME W/ GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND IT STARTED BUT WAS LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS, SWITCHED TANKS TRIED AGAIN SAME THING FINALLY STARTED GAVE IT GAS AND IT STAYED ON

(DURING THIS WHOLE TIME IM TRYING TO RUN OUT THE MAIN TANK OF GAS BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL IF ITS FULL OR EMPTY, NOT PLANNING ON USING IT ANYMORE, AND IT HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING BEFORE WITH THE OLD BATTERIES AND NOT TRYING TO RUN OUT THE GAS)

ALTERNATOR, STARTER, IGNITION????

ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE APPRECIATED

[BassChump]

From what you say, it sounds like th charging system isn't doing it's job. The battery runs low because it has to provide the energy to keep the engine running but when it gets discharged, the spark will get weak and make it run like it's starving for fuel.

That's my guess.

Try charging the battery, see how it runs and if it runs well with a full charge, check the alternator or whatever charging system you have on that.

Just my .02.

[Team_Dougherty]

I can suggest that you start with testing the alternator first. I would use a voltmeter. check the voltage at the battery terminals, it should be 13.8 to 14.2 volts when the motor is running. If it is not check terminals and connections for corrosion and tightness.

The only way to test the start is to pull the spark plug wires and check the voltage on a voltmeter when cranking. if it goes below 9 volt the battery is toast. You should make sure the battery is fully charged before this test.

[fishfordollars]

Check the starter to see if it is drawing all the amps while cranking. They can draw down a battery quick when they go bad. It probably will be this or the system posted in the above post.

[ROOKIE02]

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES GUYS

THE CRANKING BATTERY IS BRAND NEW(CAR BATTERY) BECAUSE I HAD IT FOR A CAR BUT NEVER USED

IM NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED SO CAN YOU GUYS TELL A BREAK DOWN OF HOW TO CHECK THE STARTER/ ALTERNATOR WHAT VOLTAGE TO LOOK FOR ETC.

THANKS AGAIN

[CFFF 1.5]

typing in all caps is annoying to read.

[BASSX08]

Wow all he did was ask a question CFFF1.5 why dont you just shoot him . I think its annoying when guys like you posts*%*%*  like that thats why i left the other forum i was a member on its just a fishing forum that all.

[CFFF 1.5]

Wow Bassx08 sensitive much? All I said was reading all caps is annoying and it has been said on here before that a lot of people find all caps annoying to read. ROOKIE02 is a new member and was just letting him know. Take a chill pill dude.

[BASSX08]

If you dont like caps then dont read the post thats all if you cant help out the guy with his problem they dont write anything iam sure if the adims,mods had that big of a deal with the caps they would have done something about it thats their job on this forum and has for you letting him know about caps you should have pmd him not done it on open forum like you did plus it gives new members a bad taste in their mouth about doing something wrong here now ill take my chill pill

[NBR]

I have a 1989 Merc 150. Which is nearly the same motor. If the charge in my cranking battery is low it starts hard if at all. I charge all three batteries (2 TM's and 1 Crank) after every use and have no problems.

The alternators in the older motors don't put out a lot of amps. If the battery is low you have to run the big motor at planning speeds a long long time to bring it to a level capable of cranking for a start. Some times mine sounds like it is cranking just fine but won't start. Charge the battery and it fires right up.

[George Welcome]

From what I am reading you need to clarify if:

1) Won't start because it will barely turn over.

2) "or" turns over just fine but doesn't want to start.

#1 based on your statement that the battery is new is either alternator or starter. To check the alternator is relatively easy - using a volt meter check the battery with the motor running - as stated above voltage should be 13.5+ to 14.2.

To check the starter is more difficult as you need to check amperage draw when cranking. However an indication that it is starter is varying cranking speed. ie: one time it cranks over easily and the next it will barely crank over. Not sure on this one? Take it to someone.

#2 gets far more complicated and could be a multitude of things: Take this one to a technician.

[ROOKIE02]

THANKS ALOT GUYS FOR YOUR REPLIES

THANKS BASSX08 FOR HAVIN MY BACK IM AT WORK SO I TYPE AS FAST AS I CAN WHEN IM ON (FISHIN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WORK J/K) SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION ON MY EXPLANATION OF MY PROBLEM AGAIN IM AT WORK HAD TO DO IT QUICK

ON THE OTHER NOTE STILL NEED TO CHECK MY CHARGIN SYSTEM BUT I MAY HAVE FIGURED IT OUT

MY BOAT HAS THREE TANKS 2 ON EITHER SIDE AND 1 UNDER THE SEAT GAS METER NOT WORKIN GOOD EITHER SO I WAS TRYIN TO RUN OUT THE ONE UNDER THE SEAT

UPON INSPECTION (2HRS OR SO AND READING MY MANUAL ON MY MOTOR) I WENT TO CHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM AND IT WASN'T GETTIN FUEL INTO THE MOTOR WHEN I PRIME IT???

REFFERED TO THE BOOK IT SHOWS MANUAL VALVES FOR MULTIPLE TANKS, I CHECKED MINES AND FORGOT MINE ARE ELECTRONIC ACTUATORS, OKAY PUT POWER TO IT AND FLIP THE SWITCH NOTHIN, I REMEMBERED I RAN OUT OF GAS BEFORE BUT I HAD THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION BECAUSE THE MOTOR SHUT OFF HALF-WAYS ACROSS THE LAKE, SO I TURN THE KEY TO ON AND FLIPPED THE SWITCH HEARD A POP THE GOT MY HOPES UP, PRIME THE BULB GOT GAS FLOWING HAD A SMILE ON MY FACE, TRIED STARTING IT, 2 CRANKS LATER IT STARTED AND I GOT A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF, STILL NEED TO CHARGE CRANKIN BATTERY BECAUSE IT GOT WEAK FROM TRYIN TO START IT / FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS UP

I WILL TRY TO TAKE IT OUT THIS COMING WEEKEND I COUDN'T DO IT THIS WEEK BECAUSE I WENT DEER HUNTIN, GOT MY FIRST DEER, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR DEER HUNTIN, AND BEST OF ALL IT WAS WITH MY DAD A MEMORY I WILL NEVER FORGET.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP

OH ALMOST FORGOT I FOUND OUT MY MOTOR DOESN'T HAVE AN ALTERNATOR, BUT A STATOR AND RECITATOR THAT RECHARGES AND THE BOAT IS IN USE.