2004 4.3L Merc won't start

[pip9ball]

Hello all,<br /><br />I purchased a new boat (chaparral) last summer and it ran perfect to the end of the season. I actually bought the boat late in the season so the engine only has 13 hours. Today I pulled the boat out of my garage, topped off with fuel combined with stabilizer. When I turn the key to start, the engine turns over but never actually starts. I removed the air filter and pumped the throttle to check that fuel was getting into the carburator and it was. I then proceeded to remove the fuel line from the carb. and had a friend turn the engine over....I placed my thumb over the fuel line and didn't feel any pressure as he was turning the engine over. Does this sound like a fuel pump problem? Is the fuel pump located above the fuel filter? If so I would assume this to be a manual pump, correct? How could this become bad by sitting in a warm garage?<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br /><br />-P

 

[tommays]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

i think you should be doing this with the dealer its a brand new boat still under coverage<br /><br />many a new owner has left the saftey lanyard in the off position<br /><br />doing things like takeing off the fuel and seeing what might squirt out when you dont even no what kind of fuel pump you have can only end up BADLY LIKE A FIRE <br /><br />you could have and electric pump which could have sprayed gas all over the place<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Don S]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

What the hell are you trying to do, blow yourself up?????? Had you had fuel, you would have squirted gas all over the engine and yourself, and had it backfired while you was playing your game you would have had a nice fire on you and the engine, since you looked to see if there was fuel squirting in the carb, the flame arrestor was off.<br />You need to take it to a marine mechanic, you obviously don't know what your doing.....PS, you have an electric fuel pump on your engine.<br />Did you by any chance put in the safety lanyard so the ignition system will work.

 

[pip9ball]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

Thanks for the quick responses. I actually don't know what I'm doing, however I figured it is highly unlikely that a backfire would occur as the fuel line was disconnected from the carb. I have done this on car engines before as a cheap and dirty way to determine if the fuel pump was working. Thanks for the heads up though....I won't attempt this again. I was planning on taking the boad to the dealer but wanted to post just in case you marine engine specialists had any other ideas. I'd hate to drop her off at the shop for several days it is something I could fix myself.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />-P

 

[pip9ball]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

Ok guys...I feel really stupid now! It was the lanyard switch. I was under the impression that this was similar to a jet ski where on meant the lanyard was in and off was when it was removed. My 3 year old son must have been playing around with this when I was cleanin the boat. I had no idea there was a off/run switch as well. In any case...thanks to you all!<br /><br />-P

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

By the Sounds of things........... <br />

something I could fix myself.

-P,....... You Shouldn't be Allowed to even Borrow a Wrench................... <br /><br />

 

[pip9ball]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

Lets all pick on the new guy!! Joy <br /><br />-P

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

P,.....<br />Seriously,...... The actions you describe above are Suicidal..............<br /><br />What you Don't Know,.... Can Kill You.......<br /><br />Get yourself a Shop Manual,+ park it next to the Throne....Then,. You can put to Good Use the time Wasted there..........

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

P....welcome to Iboats. In the future, please ask a question before you take a wrench to your boat. If you had got on here and asked why your boat didn't start, you would have been directed to check the safety switch before you spent time and considerable risk to you and everyone around you. I'm sorry if some of the guys were a little blunt, they were intentionaly trying to scare the he11 out of you so you wouldn't think of doing something like that again. You said that your son was playing on the boat, was he around while you had the fuel line off and cranking over the engine? enough on that topic. Please understand this isn't a car, any spilled fuel or fuel vapors cant fall on the ground and be blown away by wind, they stay in your engine compartment, also your large fuel tank isn't at the other end of the vehicle....it's one foot away from the engine. PLEASE check and double check...better yet have the dealer double check the fuel line connection that you put back together to make sure it is not leaking. We want you and your family to be safe.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

I witnessed two guys I know doing just that, open fuel line checking for fuel at the dock, The one guy is an auto mechanic, anyway part from a open fuel line they had also removed the the coil wire..........Against my advise they said "they know what there doing" no sooner that statement was made whoosh, burnt boat the Mechanic guy suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns to his arms chest and face, needless to say they were both loaded also.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: 2004 4.3L Merc won't start

There are cases where a fuel line must be removed to test things, but in that case, the line must be directed into a container to catch any gas. It is also imparative that the coil wire be securely grounded before turning on the key !