Outboard Won't Start

[Njardar]

Yesterday I went to take my pontoon boat out for the season, I got about 1,000 ft out and the outboard dies. Turns out the primer pump split and I ran out of gas. I replaced the primer pump but it still won't start. The motor is a 2008 25 hp 4 stroke Mercury, any ideas as to what the problem might be. It cranks but it doesn't even try to fire/catch. Thanks in advance.

Charlie

[fishinwrench]

Kill switch intact?

All the air purged out of the new primer bulb and fuel supply line?

If it is the 3cyl. EFI 25 4S you should be able to hear the fuel pump turn on when you first turn the key to the ON position. If not grab your wallet !

[Njardar]

FW not sure how to get all the air out, I looked on line but could not find detailed procedures. The kill switch is intact but I do not hear the fuel pump come on, and that has me worried.

[fishinwrench]

Squeeze the primer bulb while holding it vertically (arrow towards the sky) that will purge all the air out from the tank pickup to the motor side of the bulb. Any air pockets that remain after doing that will usually work their way out IF the supply hose is lower than the motor. In a pontoon where the fuel level in the tank is higher than the outboard it is kinda tricky and hard to explain the procedure in words only.

No fuel pump operation ? Ruh-Roh !!

2008 should still have some warranty left, not for much longer though.... so you might wanna high-tail it to the nearest Merc dealer pronto !

.

[Njardar]

FW, thanks I'll be calling the dealer today.

[Njardar]

And now, the rest of the story... Turns out the fuel pump died. The mechanic called me with good news and bad news. The good news was that the engine was still under warranty; the bad news was that the fuel pump was not covered. If I had purchased the higher level of coverage it would of been covered. If I could of reached through the phone at that moment... Turns out the mechanic talked them into covering the pump. So $500+ in my pocket. Now the real question, why did it fail? The dealership thought it might because I used gas with ethanol, is this true? Does a gasoline ethanol blend cause a failure like this? We did not use the boat much this year because of the heat, so I'm wondering if I should of run it more to keep parts from drying out, if that was a contributing factor. Any thoughts?

Charlie

[fishinwrench]

The dealership thought it might because I used gas with ethanol, is this true? Does a gasoline ethanol blend cause a failure like this?

LMAO! No it's not true.

the mechanic TALKED THEM INTO covering the pump.

And neither is that. The fuel pump is most definatly covered....no additional upgraded warrany, or special "talking into" required. LOL I'm curious as to why they even said that.

On your copy of the work order does it list the part numbers (one of which being a forty-some dollar vapor sep. seal) ?

Just curious.

Now the real question, why did it fail?

They fail because of an overheated circuit, either low voltage, or something holding back the pump motor (similar to how your trolling motor would fry if you put it on the highest speed and stood on the button while the prop was kept from turning) it either has to trip a breaker, melt a wire in two, or fry the motor windings.

[jdmidwest]

Or it could have sucked a piece of the bulb into the pump and clogged it.

[fishinwrench]

Or it could have sucked a piece of the bulb into the pump and clogged it.

Nope. Not even a tiny speck of pollen can find it's way into the sealed vapor separator.

[jdmidwest]

Nope. Not even a tiny speck of pollen can find it's way into the sealed vapor separator.

And is the sealed vapor separator between the primer bulb and the fuel pump? Nothing between the 2 could have been clogged and burned out the pump?