1990 Mercruiser 5.7L trouble starting

L

Lakesregion

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I just brought this boat as end of season special. The price was right. It's a 1990 Crusader 2350 rogue with a 5.7L 260hp. when I looked at it to buy the guy couldn't start it, said the solenoid was bad. The trailer was worth the price alone. Got it home to winterize so decided to get a new starter. I tried yesterday afternoon to start it but it just cranked, didn't start. I went out this morning with so starting fluid and it fired up and ran, shut it down after 30 sec. I tried starting again without the starting fluid but just tried to start but didn't start just hiccups. Used the starting fluid again and it fired up right away. So I'm wondering if I have a bad fuel pump that's on it's way out or bad plugs. Any suggestions. This is my first I/O but I do all the work on my cars and trucks. Thanks in advance.
 
alldodge

alldodge

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Have a motor serial number?
Might be old bad gas.

Take the fuel filter off and dump contents into a clear container and you should see only clear clean gas

When you pump the throttle do you see gas squirt down the carb?
 
L

Lakesregion

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alldodge said:
Welcome
Have a motor serial number?
Might be old bad gas.

Take the fuel filter off and dump contents into a clear container and you should see only clear clean gas

When you pump the throttle do you see gas squirt down the carb?
Click to expand...
The motor was replaced during the GM strike and they were selling engines that had no numbers, it's been a problem trying to find the correct starter. I'll do the filter and check the carb. thanks for your input
 
Lou C

Lou C

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The other things that can cause troubles are in the boat fuel tank, the anti siphon valve, pick up tube & vent. I’d actually check those first; you can try running the engine on a separate tank….
Is the distributor making spark?
Fuel getting to the carb?
The fact that it ran on starter fluid suggests
it’s getting spark but when the fluid gets used up it stalls suggests a fuel delivery problem. Does this have a mechanical or electric fuel pump? 8 bolt or 12 bolt intake? That can help figure out the approximate vintage of the engine….
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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Most likely the carb needs work.

Verify fuel is squirting. Make sure the choke works

Being a 1990 cruisers make sure you do not have moisture in the transom and stringers

Most cruisers boats of that era would have needed repair long before 2025.
 
L

Lakesregion

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Lou C said:
The other things that can cause troubles are in the boat fuel tank, the anti siphon valve, pick up tube & vent. I’d actually check those first; you can try running the engine on a separate tank….
Is the distributor making spark?
Fuel getting to the carb?
The fact that it ran on starter fluid suggests
it’s getting spark but when the fluid gets used up it stalls suggests a fuel delivery problem. Does this have a mechanical or electric fuel pump? 8 bolt or 12 bolt intake? That can help figure out the approximate vintage of the engine….
Click to expand...
I did find find the vintage it's a 1971 . it didn't stall out after starting with starting fluid, I shut it off to see if it would start without doing the starting fluid and it didn't. I did pull the filter and the gas was cloudy and dirty so I'll get a new filter. I pulled the sending unit cover off the gas tank and started draining the gas but the gas is very clear so I'll get a new filter and try that. Thanks for your input.
 
L

Lakesregion

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Scott Danforth said:
Most likely the carb needs work.

Verify fuel is squirting. Make sure the choke works

Being a 1990 cruisers make sure you do not have moisture in the transom and stringers

Most cruisers boats of that era would have needed repair long before 2025.
Click to expand...
 
L

Lakesregion

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I did check for water in the hull, I drilled 3" holes in the floor in storage spaces and it's dry, in fact I made a comment to the seller when I looked at it and said boy it's dry. The stern drive was replaced 3 years ago with the after market sterndrive brand.
 
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