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Intermittent starting issue

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2006musicman

New member
I have been having an intermittent starting problem with my 2008 mercury 4 stoke efi sometimes it will start no issue sometimes it will just crank over but won’t start and sometimes it will start and idle for a few minutes then quit, no sputtering just a quick stop like I shut it down. I have checked the fuel at the second filter and there is lots of fuel being pumped but no firing of the engine. This makes me think it’s an electrical issue. Has anyone had this issue as it is not very easy to diagnose as after cranking for a while and letting it sit it will start but not always. And when I bring it to the shop it starts every time 🤬
 
Intermittent problems are some of the toughest to find but I would start by looking around for a loose or corroded connection. Since it sounds like there is no connection with engine movement try starting by looking at everything that you can see easily including the battery and then nose around the ignition switch since it normally shuts the engine off a bad switch or loose wire could do it.
Remember my motto: I can fix anything! (or sometimes it's fix it so it can never be fixed) :(
 
I just noticed that you have an efi engine and that might add to the possibilities, research what controles the ignition, it may be a lot different than a carb engine.
 
Last edited:
Swagonmaster said:
I just noticed that you have an efi engine and that might add to the possibilities, research what controles the ignition, it may be a lot different than a carb engine.
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Thanks for the reply I will start at the ignition switch as I checked the battery connection already. I am going to take the coil and spark plug out the next time it happens to make sure it’s an electrical issue right now it’s been working for 3 days. Of course it’s not going to quit until I am 50 miles from nowhere lol
 
Did you notice the post by user Tohatsu that's 13 down from yours about an engine similar to yours that had a wire under the flywheel that had shorted and killed the ignition? Worth considering if you don't find anything else.
 
Get a timing light and when it wont start check to see if it has spark. If not check ignition system , if yes check fuel system...also what HP?
 
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