Boat died today.

First your engine is an EFI not MPI. Do you have a spare IAC(Idle Air Controller)? It's a common part to fail and cause symptoms similar to yours when it died at idle. Cutting out at 25 mph though is what is strange. Was it running perfectly until then?
How are your batteries?...and their connections?
Check all of your connections, including a close inspection of the alternator's connections? I had similar issues with my 230OV (5.7EFI) when a poor connection from my alternator was bad. I repaired that with a new terminal connector and replaced my batteries and she ran like a top after that.

IAC is part #7
http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury-outboard/parts/4856_130.cfm
 
Nehalennia said:
First your engine is an EFI not MPI. Do you have a spare IAC(Idle Air Controller)? It's a common part to fail and cause symptoms similar to yours when it died at idle. Cutting out at 25 mph though is what is strange. Was it running perfectly until then?
How are your batteries?...and their connections?
Check all of your connections, including a close inspection of the alternator's connections? I had similar issues with my 230OV (5.7EFI) when a poor connection from my alternator was bad. I repaired that with a new terminal connector and replaced my batteries and she ran like a top after that.

IAC is part #7
http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury-outboard/parts/4856_130.cfm
Click to expand...


According to this, it is an MPI:

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company1729/1C1_27_74DERNYQT373.pdf

yes, it was running perfectly until it died.

Batteries are both brand new this year. It cranks over beautifully.
 
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beernutz said:
He may have been referring to the discrepancy between your forum boat information, which says MPI, and the picture you posted which is of a 5.0L EFI engine.
Click to expand...

yeah, the engine pic I posted was one I found on Google-Images, not my actual engine. I didn't notice that it was an EFI engine pic, instead of an MPI.
 
Slippery When Wet said:
yeah, the engine pic I posted was one I found on Google-Images, not my actual engine. I didn't notice that it was an EFI engine pic, instead of an MPI.
Click to expand...


From what I know, you are BOTH right.

EFI or "electronic fuel injection" applies as does MPI or "multi point injection, where there is a separate injector for each cylinder.

Some older post carb models were EFI, but used one big fuel injector where the carb would normally be to provide fuel mist for the intakes. Not as precise as having an injector providing precise fuel directly to an individual cylinder.
 
Jimmy Buoy said:
From what I know, you are BOTH right.

EFI or "electronic fuel injection" applies as does MPI or "multi point injection, where there is a separate injector for each cylinder.

Some older post carb models were EFI, but used one big fuel injector where the carb would normally be to provide fuel mist for the intakes. Not as precise as having an injector providing precise fuel directly to an individual cylinder.
Click to expand...

Yes, non-MPI EFI is otherwise known as TBI (Throttle Body Injection).
 
Slippery When Wet said:
yeah, the engine pic I posted was one I found on Google-Images, not my actual engine. I didn't notice that it was an EFI engine pic, instead of an MPI.
Click to expand...

I thought that was your engine. I saw the EFI, that's why I said that.
 
Update:

My ins co called and it turns out I did NOT have towing coverage. I did not have my policy with me, but the towing operator BS'ed me big time. He quoted me $125/hr and said it would take 2 hours. I then asked to give me a few minutes to find a cheaper tow...I said I was going to go offer someone $100 to tow me a mile up river. He then went into his shpeel about ALL ins policies having towing with zero deductible and that in his 30 yrs experience he has NEVER ran across a policy that didn't have towing included. I told him I use Progressive and he then "promised" me (yes, he used that word, along with "guarantee") that I had full towing coverage. He even said that in order for me to NOT have it, I would have had to sign a form declining it. I took his word for it. Well, according to my ins adjuster, that is total BS, as it is offered as an option and is never automatically included and there is no decline form or waiver. In fact, he said most people do not opt for it at all. So, I hung up the phone and called Leo's Landing (the place that towed me) and asked them to cut my bill in half since they charged me for 2 hours and it only took 30 mins to get there, dock to dock (I timed it) and I am sure it was quicker getting back since he wasn't towing anything back. He just called me back and said he would only credit me $75 back.

I am pissed and they have lost any future business from me. I will take my gas/food business elsewhere from now on.:smt013

I am also adding towing to my ins policy.
 
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Boat US or vessel assist, same companies. Great service and only 58.00 a year. Luckily I haven't had to use them. But 58 a year is pretty cheap for ease of mind should I need them. In my area, they service all the lakes I visit. Pleasant, powell, havasu, Mohave, mead, and various other Arizona lakes. So I am covered at any of them. Look into boat US or the similar in your area.....

And try the fuses first. Seriously.... Cheap and easy diagnosis. We will get deeper then that should there b a bigger problem. But the fuses get old and crack, and it just happens.

When mine failed, had been zipping around the lake all day no problem. A buddy of mine wanted to go checkout a different cove so we idled out and at the cove opening we took off. I was just getting on plane when the boat just died.... Wife thought I was playing a joke on her. It was that sudden. Tried to restart. Cranked fine, no fuel getting to engine. First thought....crap some vacuum line came off, or something. I pushed neutral button and gave it full throttle, engine cranked for a few seconds and coughed and started, but soon as I backed off the throttle it died. Turned key off, and back on listening for electric fuel pump, ( should run for about 3 seconds after turning key on). I then checked fuses all looked good. So sat baffled for about 30 min. I decided to change them anyway one at a time. First fuse was the one!!!!! Changed it and fuel pump came to life. Engine started right up. Haven't had an issue since. I still have the fuse I removed as a reminder..... And still to this day, looks just fine, not burnt. Don't ask me how but that was it.
 
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Well, my problem turned out to be a loose wire somewhere near the starter. The starboard would only click, now buzzer or crank. Switched fuses and relays with port side, same thing. Had voltage on yellow coming from rocker on dash. Ended up finding loose wire on accident when I was reaching around the back of the motor near the starter, all of a sudden the buzzer sounded. Those annoying things come in handy once in a while. Took her out, ran great. Now, to try to find the loose wire so it does not happen again could be interesting. I am presuming it is either the batt cable or ignition wire on the starter, but need a better flashlight to check for sure.
Thanks everyone,
Mike
 
UPDATE:

Marina service mgr called today. It was the Ignition Trigger (or something like that?). He said the guy went to the boat with his laptop and fired it up and the boat actually started and ran. But eventually it died but it would start again and then die. This was NOT the case last Sunday. I tried starting that thing several times, even an hour later while being towed and it would not even fire.

He also said my temp gauge was off by about 10 degrees (reading too high). But I have not had any alarms, so I am not going to worry about that. He assured me it was running at the proper temp. I assume by his laptop reading?

Diagnosis, parts and labor: $320 :smt009 Oh well.
 
"Credit Card Charge Back".

If you hired him for $125/hr and he only gave you an hour of service. . you have grounds. . .

See if the threat will make him blink.
 
What is an ignition trigger? Is it something that is replaced? Is it reprogrammed?
 
Well I am glad to hear you r back up and running....wish we coulda saved u some cash.
 
Alibuma said:
What is an ignition trigger? Is it something that is replaced? Is it reprogrammed?
Click to expand...

I am not even sure. I will find out when I go down there tomorrow. I always request the old parts whenever I have my vehicles serviced.

Firerooster said:
Well I am glad to hear you r back up and running....wish we coulda saved u some cash.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the effort, it was much appreciated. :thumbsup:
 
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