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