Expert: tyler boehner - 2/10/2008

Question
Engine died. Would crank 5 to 10 seconds it would hit breiefly once or twice. Started trouble shooting,checking voltage at the  CID unit the engine started up. Ran the motor a wile, took the boat to the lake ran it for a wile it died three times but it restarted right up each time. Ran it for 30 to 45 more minutes couldent get it to die any more that day. Then it sat a month or too. I pulled it out started it with mouse ears ran it about 5 minutes then headed for the lake when I got there it would'nt start it would hit once or twice blow a puff of smoke out the exhaust. Put a spark checker on two different spark plugs no spark when it hits a lick you get a brief spark I have a clymer book it's not real clear in trouble shooting this problem. Could it be with the CID unit or the trigger pulser? The key switch is new with no change i'v tested the kill switch tested ok. Checked all fuses.Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Scott

Answer
Scott.  I'm not much of a Yamaha tech, but I think I can give this one a good first shot.  CID is probably fine.  That is the first thing people look at because they don't know how it works so it must be causing the problem.  Truth is, I don't know how it works either, but they don't fail.  Sounds to me like you have a fuel delivery problem.  You probably have a fuel restriction some where in the line.  A clogged filter would be the first place to look.  Trouble with Yamaha is that they seem to put about 6 fuel filters on each of their motors.  Run your motor on a test tank to eliminate the boats problem to begin with.  From there, check the filters on the fuel line and make sure the fuel pump is pumping.