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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Ok, thanks. Learned something new again. Didn’t realize the throttle needed pumped. So just to clear things up: I should pump the throttle several times before attempting to crank the engine. While pumping I should see gas squirt in the carb. However, gas does not squirt while the engine is...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    I’m doing some reading and realizing something may definitely be wrong with my choke plate. It doesn’t automatically return closed as my video from a few posts ago shows. It’s just flopping around, and fully open when the engine is trying to cold start. From my understanding this thing should be...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Also… should I see a visible amount of fuel spraying through into the carb from the accelerator pump while cranking? I don’t really see any.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Does anything look out of place on my choke plate? Is there supposed to be a spring or something? It just freely flops around right now. I can get the engine to sputter and run pouring gas down the carb and it even runs on its own for a few seconds but quickly does.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Edit- comment deleted, shift interrupt switch appears to be ok.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    I replaced the fuel pump and am pretty sure I’m getting fuel pressure now. However, still no start. It sputters on starting fluid. No attempt to even fire while cranking regularly. 1: the filter at the carb looks clean but there was no spring in that assembly. Is this an issue? (Pic attached)...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Another thing I need to get taken care of is changing the lower unit oil. The process looks pretty straightforward, but the one thing I need to identify is if my drive has an external reservoir or not. Are these usually located around the engine compartment area, if I do have one?
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    There’s a fuel filter on the carb assembly itself? I was under the impression the only filter is at the bottom end of the fuel pump.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Great explanation Chris, thanks. I’m an electrical engineer by trade, but obviously lack the “common sense” aspect of these older engines. Luckily I have some good news and I’ve learned a ton today. After cleaning the points and setting dwell, The engine has solid spark. I also had to...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Another thing that was an issue is the neutral cutout switch, mounted right on top of my valve cover. It was stuck closed no matter what gear position. I removed it and got it to free up, but obviously needs cleaned. I don’t really understand what this switch is doing. It’s obviously shorting...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    You guys are spot on. The distributor internals have obviously been replaced, but the points were corroded and not making any electrical contact. I hit them with sandpaper and will verify spark, then fine tune the dwell.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Wow, you guys are helpful with these super quick responses. So I need to trace the ignition back even further by pulling the distributor cap and verifying the points are in good shape (not broken or corroded). Makes so much more sense now. I’ll do that and update.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Yes. I think the problem is I’m confused about the ignition process. I thought the ignition coil provided spark to the distributor, but it sounds like I’m not fully grasping this concept. So I need to check for spark coming out of the distributor FIRST? Then it reaches the coil??
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Trying to figure out this no spark issue and losing my mind. I’m getting 12 volts consistently at the coil. Resistance measurement across the coil terminals is around ~2 ohms, from what I understand this means the coil is good. coil is making no park. I removed the gray tach wire and still...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    If I decide to file my points, are the areas circled in red what I should try to clean? also, any good references for setting timing and dwell? all I can find on this website are expired links and unrelated discussion
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    No, but I plan to. I can’t find a part number for the replacement points on this distributor either.
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    I located the engine SN, pic here. Another thing I just verified is there is zero fuel making it out of the pump, to the carb. What’s the proper way to verify that fuel is making it to the pump from the gas tank, unobstructed?
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Thanks Chris, I'll get this correct info and follow up today. I did read that the ignition points being glazed over is a huge issue on these setups. This is my first time working on a distributor (I'm a baby compared to most of you guys on here, born in '99), but am really swift with this stuff...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 diagnosis / serial number decode

    Hi all, I picked up a beautiful ‘88 Chris craft cavalier with a 3.0 Mercruiser stern drive. The engine was rebuilt/replaced around 2017, so fairly new, as you can tell by the cosmetic condition of it. I’m currently diagnosing a no crank/no start issue, but don’t have enough info gathered yet...
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