Outboard Engines – Basic Fault Finding

WON’T START (OR STARTS AND STOPS IMMEDIATELY)

  •  Key not  in and/or not properly engaged
  •  Kill cord or kill cord button not properly engaged
  •  Fuel not primed
  •  Fuel tank pipe or tank air locked –release air vent (or purge air  from fuel line)
  •  Fuel  - old/decayed/blocked
  •  Battery  dead

ENGINE STARTS, BUT THEN MISFIRES

  • Poor quality fuel
  • Misaligned timing or ignition
  • Spark plug(s) defective – most likely on just one cylinder

ENGINE RUNS, BUT NO COOLING WATER JET APPEARS

Stop your engine immediately if no cooling water jet is running out! 

  • Blocked intake – usually plastic bag, debris, mud, sand etc
  • Intake not fully into the water or water is far too shallow.
  • Water pipes blocked with salt –requires flushing
  • Impellor is worn, or impellor blades are broken