1995 2.5L Mariner 200hp help!

[JDS723]

I have a 1995 2.5L 200hp Mariner EFI engine. A couple of weeks ago, my ECU went bad and my motor wouldn't start, so I sent it to Simon Motorsports in CA and he rebuilt it for me. I got it back Friday, put it on, and it cranked right up. Well, I had a tourny at Toledo Bend today, so I brought my boat up and ran it Friday. It took forever to start, it would smoke really bad, idle for a second, then die. It did that probably 20 times before it finally reved up good and then it stopped smoking and ran great for the rest of the day. Well, today, it did the same thing starting off...would idle for a second, smoke really bad, then die. Finally it reved up good and it sounded good and stopped smoking, so I figured it was just bad gas. I ran a few miles, then the alarm went off. My voltage meter would jump from 11v to 15v for just a second and all my boat lights would flash really bright for a second. I layed back down and it idled fine for a few minutes so I took off again, same thing, the alarm went of and voltage was jumping. I then idled to a cove to fish. I looked in the back of the boat and the red light was light on the system while the motor was running. What could this be? What does that light mean? Is it water in the gas? Or maybe my oil injection isn't working? But why the voltage jumps?

P.S. It sucks to get towed back in 20mph NW wind in driving rain!

[Jay Smith]

When your ECU sent South your injectors may now be fowled.. A trip to Brucato will sometimes answer many questions...

Jay

[Ted Stryker]

On Toledo Bend at the end of a tow rope in 20 mph wind is no place to be, because that sucker can get really nasty in a hurry...

[TEXAS20225]

Man there are so many things that it could be its hard to start any where!!! Sounds like its going full rich in the ecu!! But injector cleaning should have been done while you were waiting on your ecu to get back. i all ways look there first before i look else where for trouble in the fuel system with today's fuel . A bad or way out of adjustment TPI will cause you much headache:( air temp sensor ( 2 tan wires on the back of port head )plug in to the plenum a bad sensor will make it run very rich, bad idle stabilizer will give you grief and so on!! is there any experience EFI friends hanging around house ??that would be your best bet unless you got money to throw at the dealers

[JDS723]

Man I wish I had friends who knew what they were talking about, but it is just me and I have very little knowledge of these motors. I can learn pretty easily and am fairly decent when it comes to motor repairs. How do I check the things mentioned (TPI, air temp sensor, idle stabilizer)?

[Way2slow on H2O]

Pull the water seperator and dump it in a clear container, you'll probably find water in it. The red light means just that---- WATER. Something is shorting out causing the voltage meter to jump around, could be the buzzer itself. The smoke is from water, lol, just like a lawn mower when it gets water in the tank, wont run for crap and smokes like hell. The injectors start rusting internally really quick so don't let it set any longer than overnight. WOT with clean fuel will probably save em, if not, then it's time for a trip to the washeteria (Brucato), lol.

[JDS723]

Ok great, but where exactly is the water seperater and what does it look like?

[TEXAS20225]

i would have said water in the fuel but since it started, smoked ,then quit and ran good all day i does not sound like it, as it would still be in the filter!! when did you refuel and how long did it set 4 months is a long life on the fuel we get today

PS Ronnie please let Dewayne off yer mota it messin up his hair doo

[TEXAS20225]

water seperator is the round canister on the left side of the ecu looking at the motor from the front its about 3' Diameter and 4"long it unscrews and has 2 hoses going to the top of it

[JDS723]

O.k thanks I will check that tonight. I just put a new one on a few months ago.

[JDS723]

The motor had sat up since September.

[TEXAS20225]

ever notice water in your fuel before ?? the little rectangular water separator alarm box on the bottom of your ecu with the red lite is what is supposed to indicate when water is present in your filter ive had one of these motors for 16 years and water in my filter it never went off any time i scrapped my whole alarm system mix my own oil and fuel watch my filters but im also a mota nut i rebuild them and play in them everyday so its not foreign soil to me but it was once
just keep us osted we will give you what help we can over the puter good luck

Ps on the voltage jumps make sure you fuel pump power wires are not grounding on any thing since it was those you were hooking up just inspect all or the wiring closely it sounds like a bare spot touching a ground some where

[JDS723]

Ok Texas, I appreciate all the help and will post back tommorrow letting yall know whats going on.

[Way2slow on H2O]

Bobby, I just fought that water crap yesterday on a fresh 200 EFI. Totally trashed a set of cleaned injectors with trashy fuel. This Ethanol crap is getting a lot of motors ( I don't mind it one bit, it keeps my pockets full) and we're machining 25-30 blocks every week (I can't keep up!!!)

Cya tuesday (tell Tommy I'll bring him an injector :D)

[JDS723]

I havent gotten a chance to check it yet because of work, but I just wanted to make sure yall knew that its not the red light under the ECU that is lit, its a red alarm bolted into the back of boat behind the gas tank. The light was lit and the alarm under the steering wheel sounded.

[JDS723]

O.K. so I messed around with it for a second today. It started right up, smoked a little, then the red light came on in the back of the boat, not on the ECU, then it died. The voltage was jumping again. I dont think it could be from overheating because it wasnt cranked but for maybe 10-12 seconds. It has oil in the resevior in the motor and in the boat. I couldn't get the filter off, I will have to do that tomorrow with a tool. Any other suggestions for things to look for?

[TEXAS20225]

They all smoke especially when first started what is this red light your referring to i have rebuilt a ton of v6 mercs none had this feature??? what does this light indicate where exactly is it located can you take a pix a filter wrench will loosen it up voltage jumping regulators may be going bad or stator

[JDS723]

The red light is mounted in the back compartment of the boat and is tied in with the motor or oil injection? It is a black box about 4in.X4in. and has a red lightin the center of it. I will see if I can get a pic up tomorrow.

[JDS723]

How can I test my stator and voltage regulator?

[TEXAS20225]

dva is the only way to test voltage however a stator can be ohmed you have a manual that red light must be aftermarket deal ive never seen nothing like that??? i disconnected my oil injection when my first year warranty was done and tossed it in the trash if its running its getting oil. i rebuilt 7/8 motors last year that lost oil injection and more then that that lost something in the EFI that 4x4 box may have something to do with you voltage going ape

[JDS723]

I just got my ECU rebuilt by Simon Motorsports. Could my ECU have anything to do with this?

[TEXAS20225]

it could have everything to do with it Not saying that it is !!!!I had one rebuilt by Rapair several years ago they never did get it fixed i sent back so many times i was unreal it wound up in the trash

[JDS723]

I found out today that the box with the red light had nothing to do with the motor. It is a charging system for my trolling motor batteries. I just put a 24v TM on my boat and had the charging system hooked up wrong causing the voltage jumps and red light to come on. But the motor still wont start good and the alarm still beeped, but it was a staggerd beep, not steady. What does that mean? Oil?

[Eggsuckindog]

I have the same motor - beep beep beep is either water in the fuel or onboard oil tank low - you couldn't get the filter off but the sensor is in the bottom of the filter - I just unscrew that and drain into a cut off coke can - I then squeeze the bulb to flush it. Be sure and refill the filter with the bulb. Just an FYI, mine had been sitting when I bought it and I had great luck with the Evinrude Fuel System Cleaner for the injectors - I use it once a year now on deposit removal ratio