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Ignition Response(22-5)
By Steve Horsfall
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I
have written to you in the past and your answer to my
problem was bang on. Now I have another question. I
own a 1989 Doral Monticello powered by twin 4.3 L V6
OMC King Cobras and have a problem with the port engine.
When I turn the ignition switch there is no power going
to the engine. This is an intermittent problem and sometimes
it will start and sometimes it will not. I changed the
ignition switch and the problem persists. I checked
both 50-amp fuses on the engine and both are OK. Additionally,
when it starts, it will run and then just shut off.
The rpm drops and the engine dies. I am totally stumped
and I don't know what else to try. Any help would be
grateful.
S. Tedford
e-mail
I assume the starter doesn’t crank and there’s
no power to the gauges on the port side. I would check
the main electrical plug where the wiring harness attaches
to the engine. Make sure the plug connections are clean,
dry and tight. You could also make sure the battery
terminal connections are clean and tight.
Even scrape the posts, inside the terminals and the
battery cable lugs until they shine. One other thing,
which is often overlooked, is the neutral safety switch
in the remote control. You can by-pass this temporarily
to check it out.
PLANE AND SIMPLE
I have a 1989 19' Bayliner with a 2.3 L I/O
engine. I am running a 17-inch prop. I was wondering
if a hydrofoil [fin] would improve my ability to get
on plane? What are the pros and cons of putting one
on the sterndrive? Also my sterndrive creeps down after
two to three hours, any suggestions?
C. Wells
e-mail
The fin will usually help make the boat plane off faster.
The only downside is that it can sometimes cause the
boat to plow excessively at higher speeds. This is when
there is too much down force on the front and too much
wetted surface (more drag) at higher speed. Trimming
out the drive once you’re planed off will help.
As far as the drive creeping down, it sounds like a
leak in the hydraulic cylinders or the pump. It could
also just be a loose connection on one of the hoses
on the base of the pump. Look for oily, wet drippings
near any of the hydraulic hose connections. If there
are no loose hoses, then it is time for a trip to the
dealer’s service department and have it checked
out.
PULLING POWER
I am looking for a bowrider for wakeboarding
and skiing. I want to be able to be pulled up on one
ski so I don't have to drop one and look for it later.
I weigh 170 pounds and I'm not sure if a 16-footer with
a 90 hp outboard would do it. Do I need to look into
a 17-footer with 115 hp?
C. Christopher
e-mail
I would think the 17-footer with the 115 hp would be
better. If you plan on using it primarily for skiing
and wakeboarding, I would look for a hull with a shallow
vee for faster planning. When the dealer is setting
it up, make sure he chooses a propeller that allows
the engine to reach its maximum rpm or close to it for
better out of the hole performance.
STALLING PERFORMANCE
I just purchased a new Glastron GT 205 with
a MerCruiser 260 hp MPI engine and it stalls when I
decelerate quickly. The dealer said the stalling would
stop once the engine was broken in. Have you heard of
this problem? What could be the problem? It only stalls
when decelerating.
G. Franko
e-mail
I have not heard of this specific problem. One thing
you might want to check is the engine oil level. Some
MPI engines have a rather sensitive, low-oil sensor
that can kill the ignition if the oil level drops by
a pint or so from the full level. But don’t be
tempted to over fill the crankcase, just make sure it’s
on the full mark.
Got a question or a problem? Send your inquiries
to Steve Horsfall at stephen.horsfall@sympatico.ca Fax:
1-613-236-0700. (Page
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