- Joined
- Jul 16, 2002
- RO Number
- 9357
- Messages
- 533
I just bought a used 2021 Princecraft pontoon boat, with a Mercury 30hp 4-stroke. I noticed that the power tilt/trim was only working sporadically, and only at low RPM’s or while in neutral. I determined the issue is likely at the motor, because it was replicated when actuating the trim & tilt button on the motors itself,
On the heels of this, another (potentially related) issue arose. We turned off the engine to visit with a friend on the lake. After 10 minutes, I went to start the motor….I turned the key and there was nothing. No power to the key switch at all. I checked for switches and breakers, nothing was tripped or blown. Other accessories at the helm worked perfectly, such as the radio. I checked the battery connections and they were all solid. I tried pull starting the motor but nothing happened, as if there was seemingly no spark. I flipped the key at the helm from off to run. Every time I tried pull starting the outboard, there would be a ”beeeeeep” as if the system was getting power, but it still wouldn’t start. Finally, I had my wife turn the key over all the way to start, while I pulled the rope. The motor fired and started. Then we started it again with just the key. Suddenly the power tilt appeared to be working normally. We cruised back to the launch dock, turned the key off. Tried to start it again with just the key, and it was stone dead again.
After we got back home, I was able to start it with the key again.
Any tech gurus here have some likely suggestions? I believe there is a 2 year warranty remaining on the motor from Mercury, but I’m wondering if there’s something obvious that I might be overlooking. Could this be an electrical short somewhere, bad starter, ?
Thanks in advance.
On the heels of this, another (potentially related) issue arose. We turned off the engine to visit with a friend on the lake. After 10 minutes, I went to start the motor….I turned the key and there was nothing. No power to the key switch at all. I checked for switches and breakers, nothing was tripped or blown. Other accessories at the helm worked perfectly, such as the radio. I checked the battery connections and they were all solid. I tried pull starting the motor but nothing happened, as if there was seemingly no spark. I flipped the key at the helm from off to run. Every time I tried pull starting the outboard, there would be a ”beeeeeep” as if the system was getting power, but it still wouldn’t start. Finally, I had my wife turn the key over all the way to start, while I pulled the rope. The motor fired and started. Then we started it again with just the key. Suddenly the power tilt appeared to be working normally. We cruised back to the launch dock, turned the key off. Tried to start it again with just the key, and it was stone dead again.
After we got back home, I was able to start it with the key again.
Any tech gurus here have some likely suggestions? I believe there is a 2 year warranty remaining on the motor from Mercury, but I’m wondering if there’s something obvious that I might be overlooking. Could this be an electrical short somewhere, bad starter, ?
Thanks in advance.
