4.3 Merc won't fire up

[mseymour]

I have 1988 4.3 liter mercruiser with a Gen I alpha outdrive. I have replaced the starter, distributor cap, rotor, and ignition sensor. It will crank, but won't fire up. I have tried starter fluid and it just spits and sputters. I have checked and rechecked the timing, and I am sure that everything is right. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 4.3 Merc won't fire up

Lose the starting fluid or lose as piston,a little bit of gas in a squirt bottle is better.
Do you have GOOD SPARK, check with the coil wire 1/2 from the block.
Did you mix up the plug wires or did you do 1 at a time.
Fuel condition and quantity?
You cant check engine timing unless it running,so what timing did you check?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 Merc won't fire up

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,........

What BD says,......

 

[mseymour]

Re: 4.3 Merc won't fire up

I did not mean timing, I meant firing order in terms of plug wires. I am certain the wires are in the right order. I have good spark all the way to the plugs. Gas is brand new, 87 octane, shell.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 Merc won't fire up

Did it run ok BEFORE you did all that work to it?
Do me a favor, and count the openings in the rotor and let me know how many you have.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 Merc won't fire up

I have good spark all the way to the plugs. Gas is brand new, 87 octane, shell.

If All 6 Plugs are Firing,...
Can you See gas squirting into the Carb, when the throttle is pumped,..??