1988 4.3 OMC Turn Key and nothing

[slasher729]

I have a quick question, i tried to start my boat after the winter and nothing will work except for the trim. Friend at work told me it is the fuse located on the starter itself. My question is are these fuses all the same? Will this one work?

https://www.iboats.com/shop/sierra-fuse-kit-90-amp-18-8220.html

Thanks, John

 

[alldodge]

To your question yes it is a 90 amp and that one will work.

The question I would ask is the fuse wouldn't just go bad or blow thru the winter. I would start cleaning cables, both positive and negative. Ensure the battery is fully changed, then check power at the ignition switch

 

[slasher729]

It's completely possible i crossed the wires as i was in a huge hurry when I winterized the boat. It was about 35 degrees that day. Thanks, that is all i needed you have a great day.

 

[Scott Danforth]

check your cables / connections and the condition of the batteries. also being a 1988, you will need to service your points.

 

[Lou C]

I had this exact problem on my '88 Four Winns a few years ago and believe it or not, it turned out to be oxidation on the fuse for the ignition system in the boat's fuse box under the dash. The fuse (old glass style) had continuity but current could not flow! I pulled out all the fuses, cleaned all the clips holding them in and replaced all the fuses. No problems since. Also check your connections on the back of the ignition switch.

 

[slasher729]

check your cables / connections and the condition of the batteries. also being a 1988, you will need to service your points.

The batteries are only a few years old and I charged them with my smart charger so I know they are fine. I put a new distirbutor cap on last year with new plugs and wires as I was having an issue with it losing RPM at high RPM. I still haven't figured that issue out yet. I need to get it started before i start trying to fix my other issues.

Lou C, I will check the fuse out after work. Hopefully that's it I have had a few issues with fuse connections for my radio before so that's a possibility.

 

[Scott Danforth]

did you clean the battery cable connections? if not, start there.

 

[slasher729]

I went home on lunch to check it out and there is not a 90 amp fuse on the starter. If the cables were crossed how much damage could have been done? I jumped the starter with a wrench and it at least spun. How bad is it?

 

[slasher729]

It ended up being one of the two 50 amp fuses on top of the engine. I have another question hopefully Lou C can help as he owns the same exact boat as i do. 1988 four winns horizion 200. I am having issues of losing power at WOT so i bought a new anti siphon valve. The old one will still push back and fourth but not as easily as the new one. Would that cause the issue I'm having?

 

[slasher729]

Just replying to my own thread don't mind me. Everything is installed and running great. Just waiting for this weekend to see how she does with a load on it.

 

[Lou C]

That could be it. That or a gunked up pick up screen on the end of the pick up tube in the gas tank.
Other causes of performance problems include a dirty or mis adjusted carb and burned or mis adjusted ignition points. This model has an old fashioned breaker point distributor with centrifugal (mechanical) advsnce and they need regular maintenance to be reliable. Which carb do you have, the 2bbl or 4bbl?

 

[slasher729]

I have the 2 barrel rochester carb. The problem I was having last season was it would run full throttle at 4300rpm and then randomly bog down to 4000 and back up to 4300 and keep doing it. Last time I had it out the rpms slowy started dying so i cut the throttle and it died and I heard a loud boom from the engine. Opened the engine hatch and there was smoke coming from the carb. Restarted it with the throttle wide open and it started. So I turned right around and it hasn't seen the water since.