2014 AR240 engine stalls immediately after starting

[MASF4i]

Hi everyone, my family and I just arrived to the lake for a long weekend and my starboard side engine will start but immediately shut off every time. It probably runs for half a second. It has brand new spark plugs in it as well. The other engine runs fine. I'm trying to search everywhere I can but we are kind of in the middle of nowhere and have spotty internet connection. I had to drive down the road just to be able to post this but I will do everything I can to keep an eye on this thread and respond as needed. Is there anything you guys can think of that I could try? I really appreciate any advice you all have for me. Thank you!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

possibly a bad kill switch at the helm or rear hatch switch

 

[MASF4i]

Thank you for the reply. I tried the trick with taping a coin above the rear hatch kill switch with no luck. The few times it will idle it didn't sound like it's running quite right. It seems like it might be doing a small stumble now and again. This leads me to believe it might be more of an engine issue than a kill switch problem. I might just replace both kill switches anyways just to rule it out. Looks like this trip might just be a wash if that's the case.

Again, thanks for the reply

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

well remember 2014 had bad chains but I had one that went and it just flat shut off and cranked really fast due to no compression. your profile shows 2011 I assume you have a newer boat now, if it is a lanyard switch try propping it up higher adding something to the wedge I have seen that happen in the past

 

[MASF4i]

Thank you sir, I'll give that a try. And you are correct, we sold the 2011 about 5 years ago and recently bought this 2014

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Ok it could be a fuel issue also or bad ground to that engine check the ground cable ends , , when it stalls does it start back up and then repeat the process

 

[Acard7]

If have spare spark plugs i would change them just to see, easy to do anyways. My engines were taking awhile to start and after I changed them the engines fired up quick. I changed them at the beginning of the season too, so I’m on a second set of new plugs this season. When you said it would idle and not seem to run right it makes me think battery, fuel, air, and/or spark.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

also could be a bad connection at the ignition switch sounds electrical to me

 

[MASF4i]

The spark plugs are brand new last weekend. I was thinking the same thing as you guys and changed them last weekend. Running it on the hose at my house all seemed good. When I got back to the lake I found it was still don't the same thing. Yes when it stalls it will immediately start back up and stall right away again. Ever once in a while it will idle and even get the boat on plane. Then it might die right away every time I start it for 20 times or more. I agree with thinking it's likely electrical.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

ok fuel or electrical did you wash down the engines with a hose recently

 

[flyingnugget]

Air filter? Make sure you dont have any obstruction and good flow. Take the whole filter out and try.. make sure the hosing/duct going to engine isn’t bent or damaged.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

actually that reminds me, check your oil level and smell it for a fuel smell if it shows high on the stick a stuck injector can bring up your oil level and cause the excess to be blown out into the air cleaner element and choke the engine

 

[MASF4i]

For a little bit more info, I was just messing with it checking things out and it ended up running so I took it out of the dock. It ran great for about 5 minutes up to top speed and everything. Now it's back to it's old tricks already. This does make me think it's likely something electrical as I think that's the most likely thing to cause intermittent issues. I will however check out everything that you guys have mentioned just in case. Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Sx240]

Not sure as I’m new to boating but I believe somewhere I seen check your impeller something may be wrapped up
Around it causing motor to stall good luck

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

ok good news try to wiggle all the electrical connectors

 

[MASF4i]

Hey all, thanks again for all of the responses. I ended up taking the boat to my Yamaha dealer and found out it needed the ecu replaced. I should get it back within the next few hours. I figured I would update the post Incase someone comes across it later with the same problem. Have a good weekend

 

[flyingnugget]

@MASF4i great! Glad it was a quick fix and an "easy" find from the dealer. Sometimes trouble shooting boats can be mentally taxing. Just curious, how much are ECU's going for these days?

 

[MASF4i]

The ECU was $1,300. According to them I got the last one in the country. If I didn't get that one we were going to have to wait for one from Japan via containership. I'm very happy with how fast the dealership was. I got it there Monday afternoon and by Tuesday they had diagnosed and got the part on order for me. Then as you probably saw I was able to pick it up on Friday and head back to the water. The boat ran great this weekend

 

[flyingnugget]

Dang!!!! $1300! I would normally say your dealer was exaggerating bout it being the last one in the country lol, but I think he probably wasn't too far off in this Covid world and I would have bought it too.

Glad it all worked out!

Enjoy and cheers!