2016 115HP - Motor dies when put into gear, restarts when put into neutral

[Kelster1574]

Title says it all.....I have a 2016 Mercury 115HP Fourstroke, on my last couple trips the motor would die when I put it into reverse coming into the dock, then restart when I put it into neutral. Any ideas on what it could be? Thanks in advance

[EuropeanAM]

Clarify please:

Stalls when shifted into reverse: Ok.

"Restart when I put it into neutral": Are YOU meaning to say that you are ABLE to restart it after you shift to neutral, OR that a little gremlin in the electrical system is starting the engine FOR YOU?

[Kelster1574]

Correct, The little gremlin is restarting the motor once I shift back into neutral

[EuropeanAM]

If you have a side-mount control with the key switch inside the remote control- you can pretty well count on there being damaged/pinched/chafed wiring inside the control.

Just as a note- be sure to provide your serial number when posting (while it might not seem critical to one question- it's simply required when posting to make things flow smoothly).

[8theB8]

Same motor here, 2016, started doing the same thing about three weeks ago. Engine running and in gear, shift to neutral and it dies, key still on, shift into either gear and it restarts. Very annoying.

[Kelster1574]

Serial #2B218347
Model #1115F131D

Ignition is on dash, not on the side mount shifter

[EuropeanAM]

See if you can take a video of this occurring, post it to a video hosting service and share a link here. Be great to be able to see the tachometer at the same time...

Since you have a dash-mounted key switch, make sure that switch is good (no moisture or corrosion, not hanging or sticking in start position, etc). If the switch is sticking at the start position (or start signal), some really weird stuff will happen when you shift (neutral safety switch makes and breaks the circuit, much like turning the key would). A Smart-Start model will shut down OR restart based on only a very short signal on the start circuit wire.

Lanyard switch or wiring could POSSIBLY be related to the stalling, but shouldn't be causing the Smartstart system to activate.

[Kelster1574]

Great info, Thank You!

[azbassman352]

I will video this next time I go out. Mine does the same thing, but only on hot days. Mercury 115 4 Stroke. I have vessel view and it says system ok.

[Kdixer]

I will video this next time I go out. Mine does the same thing, but only on hot days. Mercury 115 4 Stroke. I have vessel view and it says system ok.

Check to see if your ignition switch is sticking? Mine was doing this and the issue was the ignition switch not fully returning to the on position after starting. Therefore when you shift to neutral, the nuetral safety circuit interrupts the ignition. There seems to be a programming glitch in the ecm that causes it to reset when shifting back in gear which then causes it to restart when returning to nuetral since the switch is stuck in the start position.

I replaced my key switch and it has not done it since.