7.4 LX MPI 1997 not starting

[1998233]

Went to the ramp to launch for the season and for maybe the first time ever in 7 years, the boat wouldnt start. It turned over nice and fast, but just that dry cough sound.

I had added 15 gallons of new gas and a little bit of the blue dry gas stuff on the way to the marina. I dont believe the problem is bad fuel.

The fuel pump comes on for sure and when I pulled the schraeder valve off the fuel rail it spit out gas.

Doesnt seem to be getting any spark. Any advice on what needs to be replaced?

Toggled the safety kill switch under the shifter. Not that. Even tried starting with the "choke" on by putting throttle forward.

My marina service dept has at least a 2-3 week backlog so I need to do it myself, or at least try.

Can I hookup a fault scanner on this1997 Mecruiser? Where do I buy the scanner?

[1998233]

Its definitely electric, not fuel. Got no spark from spark plug while laying on engine block.

[1998233]

News flash- Distributor cap and rotors do not last 7 years in upstate NY even under limited hours at low rpms.

Lets see how far back I need to go. MIght need module and or coil.

[bruceb58]

This is the first time you tried starting the boat in 7 years? Unless you drained all the gas out of the tank before you added new gas, you have a major problem with the bad fuel that was still in there. We are not just talking the fuel tank here. We are talking fuel rails and fuel filters too.

Personally, I wouldn't even attempt to start an engine that has been sitting around for 7 years before pulling the distributor and manually operating the oil pump.

By putting the throttle full forward, you basically turn off the injectors. You do that only during a flooded condition.

[rabiddawg]

Bruce58, I read it as first time boat failed to crank in 7 years.

I wish I could offer some help but I’m not familiar with your particular set up.

Good luck

[bruceb58]

Bruce58, I read it as first time boat failed to crank in 7 years.

You are right! Read it again.

[1998233]

Update, new cap and rotor not enough. Boat ran perfect last fall. Have new ignition coil and ignition control module on order. Hoping I wont need to use the module because the little bitty screws that hold it on are rusty round nubs.

[dustinm]

Do you have power to the distributor? If you do then its probably the module.

[1998233]

Only needed ignition coil in addition to the cap and rotor. Started right up. Will launch next weekend. Better late than never.

[rabiddawg]

Awesome! Go have fun

[1998233]

Thanks for all the input. The question remains how did ignition coil go from working in September to a fat swollen rusted mess in April? I can only guess that snow melt leaked through winter tarp and dripped onto coil? Boat is stored outside with a custom fit winter tarp.

FYI when I launched it overheated within 5 minutes and I am still working on this mystery over on another post.
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=5650