Bayliner 175 Mercruiser 3.0 Starting issues

[LzyPenguin]

I have a 2008 bayliner 175 with a 3.0 mercruiser in it. I took the boat out today, and i was having trouble starting it. I was able to start it right up launching it no issues, but after that i stopped and started it probably a dozen times, and i could not get the engine to just start without coercing it. I would have to give it gas as soon as i heard the engine try and turn over in order to get it to come on. And towards the end of the day it was getting tougher and tougher to start. Once its started its running just fine though.

I plan on changing the spark plugs this week, and i was thinking maybe changing the starter as well. Do you guys think this will fix the issue, or is there other things i should have looked at?

Thanks

[Douggy]

When the engine is cold and before cranking the engine I used to turn on the blower, wait a few minutes, pump the throttle a few times to get gas in the carb and leave the throttle in neutral and slightly above the idle position, then start.

If your engine is cranking over normally then the starter is probably fine. If the cranking seems slow or weak then you might have a battery or charging system issue.

[Chief_Alen]

After a hard run let the engine idle for 3-4 minutes before shutting down.

Give the engine a tune up, check your fuel filter maybe new wires and check under rhe dist cap

[LzyPenguin]

When the engine is cold and before cranking the engine I used to turn on the blower, wait a few minutes, pump the throttle a few times to get gas in the carb and leave the throttle in neutral and slightly above the idle position, then start.

If your engine is cranking over normally then the starter is probably fine. If the cranking seems slow or weak then you might have a battery or charging system issue.

The thing is when i took it out last time, it started just fine from being cold, then as the day went on, it got worse trying to start it, even after i had just stopped the engine 2 minutes prior.

I've checked the battery and it is 12.86 volts, so i don't think that is the problem. Also, it doesnt seem to be cranking too slowly, although i might have just gotten used to hearing it crank this way. I might try and get a video of my trying to start it later.

[flyman219]

I'm pretty sure your motor is a TKS equipped instead of a choke on the carb. You might want to check to be sure you hear the vacuum whistle when starting cold and then it getting quiet after about 8 minutes of run time when it leans out. I'll try to find the link to the TKS carb manual for you and add it to this post.

Mike

Here it is; http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/ma...iser41.html#/0

[6104696]

the starter and battery should have nothing to do with the symptoms that you describe. The comments above about TKS are correct.....2008 (US market, anyway) were TKS.

Is this something new, or is the boat "new to you" and this is the way it is? Are you by any chance burning last year's fuel? If so, put in some fresh stuff before anything else. Then I would start with a tune up (fuel filter, plugs, cap/rotor, spark plug wires, timing), a blast of carb cleaner.

My 2007 TKS 3.0 needed two pumps on the throttle and then set throttle to slightly above idle and it would reliably start.....the longer it had sat since last use (days v. weeks) the longer it would need to crank. But once warmed up, it would immediately start with no pumping, throttle at idle.

Could be a timing problem....though that seems unlikely given your symptoms. That motor has a timing chain, I think, that should last a long long time....

when mine was about 8 years old the carb got gummed up with some gelatinous goo....I blame that on the effect of ethanol on a pre-ethanol fuel system. But those symptoms were different than yours.

[ChrisWNY]

Apologies for replying to an old thread, my 2008 Bayliner 175 (MerCruiser 3.0 TKS - Turn Key Start) is having this EXACT same issue. Starts fine from a cold start, then after being on the water for awhile in a drift (fishing), or the engine is off for more than 5-10 minutes after running for awhile, the engine barely starts. I get clicking (sometimes it sounds as if the starting motor isn't engaging all the way), or a "weak" sounding start. When the engine fires up it's perfectly fine and runs great. I JUST noticed this problem this past weekend...no problems starting the engine prior to this weekend, at all. From what I had read, I thought some sort of "relay solenoid" was the issue, but when looking into the engine, I think mine has a "relay solenoid." My battery is relatively new, well-maintained, and has plenty of voltage when this issue occurs (well over 12V, sometimes 13V).

I'm perplexed and wondering what was done to resolve this issue?

[Nauti_Mike]

Apologies for replying to an old thread, my 2008 Bayliner 175 (MerCruiser 3.0 TKS - Turn Key Start) is having this EXACT same issue. Starts fine from a cold start, then after being on the water for awhile in a drift (fishing), or the engine is off for more than 5-10 minutes after running for awhile, the engine barely starts. I get clicking (sometimes it sounds as if the starting motor isn't engaging all the way), or a "weak" sounding start. When the engine fires up it's perfectly fine and runs great. I JUST noticed this problem this past weekend...no problems starting the engine prior to this weekend, at all. From what I had read, I thought some sort of "relay solenoid" was the issue, but when looking into the engine, I think mine has a "relay solenoid." My battery is relatively new, well-maintained, and has plenty of voltage when this issue occurs (well over 12V, sometimes 13V).

I'm perplexed and wondering what was done to resolve this issue?

It sounds like a bad slave solenoid to me. Easy fix for $25.

[ChrisWNY]

It sounds like a bad slave solenoid to me. Easy fix for $25.

That was my thought as well...on the '08 Bayliner 175 (Mercruiser 3.0 TKS), where is the slave solenoid? On top of the starter motor? I could not for the life of me find it...the videos/photos I've seen online show this:


Not sure if I'm blind or what, but I can't locate anything that looks like the solenoid above on my particular engine...

[Nauti_Mike]

It should be near the engine breaker on top of the engine. Post a picture if you cannot locate it.

[ChrisWNY]

I don't currently have my boat trailered in my driveway (it's at the Marina until next week), but here's the best photos I could find that shows the top of the engine (not from my boat but the EXACT same engine model that I have):




I know the breaker is the widget with the red button toward the middle-left of the photo, but nowhere near there can I locate a starter relay solenoid.

[Nauti_Mike]

I’m not seeing it either. Try tracing the wires from the starter solenoid to see if you can locate it. I have heard that some 3.0’s don’t have a slave solenoid so I would then suspect the starter solenoid.

[ChrisWNY]

The only "solenoid-like" device I found was the one sitting right on top of the starter motor...I traced the wires from the breaker right down to the starter motor. It looks similar to this (with the starter on the bottom, solenoid on top):



Since my boat is currently at the Marina, I am going to bite the bullet and have them diagnose/fix the problem. It'll be the first time I haven't gone the DIY route (I've replaced the water pump impeller, alternator, V-belt, and always do oil/filter/plug changes every season, so I have some experience working on the engine...mostly routine minor stuff). Thanks for your help thus far! I will report back here once my boat is "out of the shop."

[Nauti_Mike]

Yes that is the stater solenoid on top. The wire from it to the breaker is providing power to the breaker which then provides power to the engine and helm.

[Rowenshock]

Apologies for replying to an old thread, my 2008 Bayliner 175 (MerCruiser 3.0 TKS - Turn Key Start) is having this EXACT same issue. Starts fine from a cold start, then after being on the water for awhile in a drift (fishing), or the engine is off for more than 5-10 minutes after running for awhile, the engine barely starts. I get clicking (sometimes it sounds as if the starting motor isn't engaging all the way), or a "weak" sounding start. When the engine fires up it's perfectly fine and runs great. I JUST noticed this problem this past weekend...no problems starting the engine prior to this weekend, at all. From what I had read, I thought some sort of "relay solenoid" was the issue, but when looking into the engine, I think mine has a "relay solenoid." My battery is relatively new, well-maintained, and has plenty of voltage when this issue occurs (well over 12V, sometimes 13V).

I'm perplexed and wondering what was done to resolve this issue?

This may not be yours but this was my experience.
I had that issue at the start of the summer.... i had just changed the starter so i knew it wasnt that but it was getting worse and worse. I also carry a spare battery at all times so in knew it wasnt that. In my case it turned out that the lug that connects to the starter was totally corroded and was hanging by a little bit of rusy metal. I crimped a new one and it was sorted.