Is it a Thunderbolt? and starting question.

[Ron-O]

My engine has a serial of 0C753276 MERCRUISER 4.3L ALPHA. Is this a thunderbolt ignition? I couldn't find the years they were made. Had a bizarre issue yesterday. Was out on the river for about 2 hours, just cruising around with some fast runs now and then, ran fine the entire time. Came into the dock and the engine stalled. It would not restart, just cranking and cranking, didn't sound like it was firing at all. Had to have another boat guide me to my trailer then winch it all the way on. Got home, tried to start it and it fired right up. I'm thinking about doing a good tune up to be sure. Anything else to check?

Thanks, Ron

 

[Ron-O]

Re: Is it a Thunderbolt? and starting question.

Sorry, forgot to add the boat is a 1991 Cheetah 2000LS.

 

[Don S]

Re: Is it a Thunderbolt? and starting question.

The next time it goes bad, you need to check to see if you have spark and/or fuel to the carb.

 

[Ron-O]

Re: Is it a Thunderbolt? and starting question.

I'm thinking about taking over to the dock this week just to test run it for a while. I did see the Thunderbolt IV modules tonight while checking the motor. It may have just been flooded real bad.. the center of the spark arrester top where the bolt comes up through was still wet. Guess I should have tried to hold it wide open and crank it. Still a newbie...

Ron

 

[mrainey889]

Re: Is it a Thunderbolt? and starting question.

Kind of a shot in the dark here, but next time this happens stop cranking the motor and shift the outdrive in to and back out of gear. If it starts right up afterwards you probably need a new shift cable. The cable starts sticking and binding in its sleeve and triggers the shift interrupt improperly causing a no spark condition.

I just had mine replaced this spring, and it is a 1990 Merc.

Later,
Mike