stalling and wont start

[b_fuss]

This past Sunday, took the boat out. Launched drove around for about 30min. Various throttle postions idle, full, cruise speed. Anyway we pull into a cove and idle speed in for about 5 minutes. Then bam stall and all gauges dead. I turn off and on the ignition an couple times it starts. Only for a second, stalls again. We deside to anchor for a couple hours. My brother in law tows me out of the no wake zone. I try to start, success. I un hook from tow boat and throttle to the ramp about 6-8 minutes away at 4000-4200 rpm no problems, the only thing I notice is the dash volt gauge on the dash indicates slightly above 12 volts on the way back to the ramp. I tie up to the dock shut down, put the trailer in the water. Go to the boat to pull it around to trailer, it stalls twice I figure I will pull it around with dock lines. The wind is blowing pulling it around is not working I tell my son to try yo start. It fires I jump in and gas it to the trailer no problems.

Today I go to boat to poke around with the multi meter. I checked voltage at battery 12.65 volts, same voltage at red wire on key switch.

If I turn the switch to run position and check voltage at the purple wire there is a drop of about 0.1 volt, is this drop normal?

I am wondering what could cause this stalling no start everything dead situation????

I have been trying to find answers and found something that said maybe the slave soleniod I just dont see the conection to this part and stalling.

The only other thing I want to check but didn't is the voltage at the purple wire on the coil.

I did take the purple wires off the coil and clean them there wasnt any corrosion just seemed I could make them clean and shiney.

I assume i should not have much if any drops in voltage between any conections

Thanks in advance for all the help you provide.
Bill

 

[tomwin]

Re: stalling and wont start

If it runs then quits out, I'd look for something simple first - perhaps a vapor lock?

 

[wvit1001]

Re: stalling and wont start

The motor needs three things to run - fuel, air, and a spark. When it's not starting is it getting all of these? Check the carb, when you pump the handle or crank the motor do you see fuel pumping down the carb. If so then check to see if it's making a spark.

Year before last I had an ignition problem that would only show up after the motor had gotten hot. It would run fine when it was cool then as it warmed up it would stop sparking.

 

[Coors]

Re: stalling and wont start

It seems like bad electrical conections
Get them all shiney clean, then report back.

 

[b_fuss]

Re: stalling and wont start

I went back to the boat to take some more voltage readings,
here are my findings:
12.65 volts at the red wire to key switch
12.51volts at purple wire on key switch
12.38 volts on purple wire at the coil and to the plug for thunderbolt amplifier.

I did clean the connections to the coil.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: stalling and wont start

Can you tell us what we're working on and provide an engine serial number?

 

[b_fuss]

Re: stalling and wont start

Reel- The boat is a 1990 Sea Ray 260cc, 7.4l, Bravo One. I dont have the serial number handy, the boat lives at storage yard.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: stalling and wont start

Pull apart the plug where the two harnesses meet.....
Is it tight?....
Any signs of corrosion?.......
Also check the connections on the ignition switch itself.....​

 

[b_fuss]

Re: stalling and wont start

I did put apart the main plug cleaned the pins with a wire brush then some contact cleaner. The conections on the switch are clean and tight.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: stalling and wont start

Well, have you tested it since you did the clean up work?.....​

 

[b_fuss]

Re: stalling and wont start

Not on the water yet, I have to be honest I am a little gun shy. I dont want that empty feeling if it happens again.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: stalling and wont start

It's the only way you will find out......​

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: stalling and wont start

Launch it and pretend your on a jet ski. Go around in circles right in front of the launch until you feel confident.

 

[Coors]

Re: stalling and wont start

Launch it and pretend your on a jet ski. Go around in circles right in front of the launch until you feel confident.

And spray people...

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: stalling and wont start

Only if the launch is in a no wake zone...

 

[Coors]

Re: stalling and wont start

yep

 

[b_fuss]

Re: stalling and wont start

I ended up having to change the circuit breaker that supplies power to the ignition switch. (it broke while removing the wires to clean them)
I cleaned all connections at the battery switch. Cleaned and sprayed with contact cleaner the main plug. cleaned the connections at the coil.
Anyway I took the boat out tonight for about an hour, no problems, fingers crossed.
There was one difference when I went out tonight vs. Sunday when the problem started. My voltage gauge was reading higher, Sunday it was barely over the 12 volt mark. Today while idling and running at cruise speed, it was reading halfway to the 14 volt mark. I put the Multimeter on the battery to see what it was getting 14.?? alittle over 14. well seems to be fixed. I am keeping the MM on the boat so "if" it happens again I can start narrowing down the possible sources.

I want to put out a big thanks to everyone that offered me help in fixing the problem.
Bill