I have a 2000 Evinrude 225 Ficht that has a been a very reliable motor for the most part. But, for over the past year it has an intermittent problem starting at times. Engine turns over fine but just not fire. It used to only be during cold ambient temps, it would give problems every now and then at the initial cranking once you got to the lake. Once it would fire it would fire ever time after that on that day. Now it is getting more common and happening in hotter temps also but may happen at any time you try and crank it. It will crank first time for the day and then run down the lake and make the first stop and try and crank later to move to the next spot and it will not fire. You can keep trying 3-15 minutes and then it will finally fire and may not give you the problem for 3 more trips, but may happen 2-3 times a day some trips.
It is bugging the crap out of me and I would just as soon as it go out totally so it can be trouble-shot consistantly. I have a new 1000CCA battery on it and have checked all connections and changed out the starter solenoid. It has new plugs that have been indexed properly. The motor is mechanically sound and is very strong when it is running. It has very low hours on it to be 10 years old (less than 150 hrs) and has been babied from day one (only 4% of the life has been over 5,000 RPM). Most everything I have read on the net of people have the same issue it seems to point to the EMM. I don't want to spend $2K on a part for a motor that does not book $3500 if I can help it.
Any advice from the experts would be appreciated cause I am seriously considering buying a new motor if it can not be cured rather inexpensively. Thanks!